Tamil Nadu - Nagapattinam   

Community-based livelihood project for tsunami victims

Special Correspondent

To provide employment continuously at a competitive market wage

KEEPING THEM ENGAGED: Beneficiaries undergoing training in garment making at Velankanni.

Nagapattinam: The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Bangkok, in association with Development Promotion Group, a Chennai-based non-governmental organisation, launched a community-based livelihood project for tsunami victims at Velankanni in the district on Friday.

Miguel Perez Ludena, Economic Affairs Officer of UNESCAP, Bangkok, inaugurated the Rs.50-lakh project by starting a training programme in garment making for girls and women of the tsunami-hit areas.

He said that the UNESCAP and the DPG would achieve the goal of livelihood support for the affected communities through the field project.

Mr. Miguel appreciated DPG's tsunami rehabilitation activities, including construction of hundreds of permanent houses in Nagapattinam and Tuticorin districts.

R. Bhakther Solomon, Chief Executive Officer of DPG, Chennai, who presided over, said the programme would offer training for 50 to 100 tsunami-affected girls or women in garment making for four months. The DPG would identify a private company and establish a garment production unit in consultation with the UNESCAP.

Mr. Solomon said that the ultimate aim of the joint enterprise was to provide training-cum-employment continuously for the girls or boys or women from tsunami-hit areas at a competitive market wages in the company named as `Rose Fashions and Designs' now located at Velankanni.

The UNESCAP had signed a trust fund with the Republic of Korea in July 2005 for projects on multi-hazard preparedness and comprehensive risk reduction, he said.

A. Juliet Arputharaj and S.Alagarsamy, chairperson and executive officer respectively of Velankanni town panchayat and others spoke.

Augustine Ponraj, Project Director of DPG at Velankanni proposed a vote of thanks.

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