Tsunami Survivors

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Tsunami victims move on with their lives     

Students of St.Peters Middle School in Kadayapattanam in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu praying before starting heir classes for the first day on January 18

    Port Blair/Chennai: A month has gone by since the onset of a calamity that changed the direction of thousands of lives. Among the people who suffered losses one can sense a determination to accept the inevitable and move on to rebuild their lives. Signs of the morning dawning again after a dark night. The first wedding after the tsunami, on the devastated Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The bride, Kalpana Mandal lost her mother and four younger siblings at Campbell Bay when the killer tsunami waves struck. Sanjay Mistri, the groom, was similarly struck. It was their mutual pain that brought them closer. Their wedding stands out as a symbol, that life looks always to the future. "Many people are helping us to conduct the marriage. People are helping in preparing food, they are taking care of the different aspects of the marriage. All of us together with the Island Development Committee, a NGO, have organised this marriage," says Vipin Kumar Chauhan, the committee's general secretary.

Children taking lessons at the ITF Ground relief camp in Andaman

     Elsewhere, people are getting along with their lives, having just celebrated the Pongal festival.Schools too have reopened and students are attending prayer meetings. The distribution of books have begun and students are now attending classes to be taught by their teachers. A majority of these students have lost at least one family member. Getting them back into the routine of life, it is hoped, will minimize the psychological trauma. Honouring traditions - even in the face of devastation - is one way to help people cope with their losses. The harvest festival of Pongal this month has given an oppurtunity to start life afresh. Wearing new dresses, shopping for fruits and vegetables, people visited various temples to offer worship in different parts of the state. Its part of a strong and swift relief effort through playing a supporting role. Delivery of school supplies and sports equipment, the rebuilding of libraries, organizing play activities for children and training teachers. Getting life back on track.

      "We are trying our best to function smoothly. We have also begun individual counseling. The students need it. We are also having prayer ceremonies to instill self belief in the students," claims J. Jeromias, the Head Master of the St. Peters Middle School in Kadyapattanam, Tamil Nadu The fishing community, completely ravaged by the December 26 tsunami are reaching deep for religion to try to make sense of the tragedy and cope with what's ahead. In the fishing hamlets of southern India, villagers are making offerings to appease "mother" sea by offering milk and burning pungent camphor.

Tribal Nicobarese at the ITF Ground relief camp in Andaman for tsunami victims. The camp accomodates 1167 tribals

     Natural disasters, believe many, happen in places where good is temporarily overwhelmed by evil. "The sea is our mother. She gives and she also takes back. We put all our faith on this mother as we don't know anything else. We cannot live without here hand over us. Ultimately we have to go back to the sea for our livelihood," says Piramallai, a fisherman. The government now looks to mitigate the longer term impact of the disaster. The government last week approved a package of US$ 27 billion for the fisheries and housing sectors. A national reconstruction plan is being given shape. Rehabilitation measures include loans and grants for fishermen besides rehabilitation of fishing harbours. From trade to employment to the environment, its now about plans for the longer term.
- Jan 24, 2005

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