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Rejuvenate India Movement - Tsunami Relief & Rehabilitation Initiatives update dated 23rd February 2005
Ongoing Rehabilitation activities at Tharangampadi:
* Coaching classes for X for 32 students and for + 2 for 17 students through a private Tutor at Akkur is going on. The local SS identified in the villages are monitoring and encouraging the students to attend the tuition.
* GOAL / CINI / BWDC relief package distribution – a through assessment is done for 841 families in Kumarakudi, Manickapangu, Kesavanpalayam and Veppancheri villages. Tokens have been issued to these families and the distribution shall take place from 25th February (to start with Kumarakudi).
* Complete assessment of Cash for work (common work) and agriculture work (land holding, farmers’ details) have been obtained / under compilation. Details will be posted to the groups soon.
* Mr. Raghav of ASHA Seattle had a telephone conversation with RIM Coordinator regarding the Cash for work programme, tsunami rehabilitation initiatives etc.,
* As the local youth are requesting for sports goods (a good entry point to us and a diversion for the youth also), it is proposed to distribute some sports items in Perumalpettai and Kuttiyandiyur.
* SWM will be taken up Kuttiyandiyur, Vellakovil and Perumalpettai temporary shelters – there is a desperate need for this. The SS / Fellows have been advised to take it up immediately. They were also requested to consult the local panchayats for construction of small compost sheds with improvised materials.
* Skill training under Exnora’s USAID project will be assessed by SS before the month end and will be implemented.
* Left out cases on entitlement compensation for a deceased person (Rs. 1 lakh for a beneficiary at Kesavanpalayam) and 7 families outlawed by village panchayat at Manickapangu have been taken up with Mr. K. Rajaraman IAS and with his inputs, the same is being cleared.
* Exnora will support four RIM SS under its Change maker /SS programme of USAID. The persons referred for this assistance are: M/s Ramalingam, Sadagopan, Sagadevan and Ganesh Raman.
National Consultation on Disaster management
Sri Jagadanandaji of CYSD has prepared a Concept note on National consultation on Disaster management. The note has been circulated to RIM Core group members. We have some response / suggestions in this regard. Dr. BV Parameswara Rao has suggested RIM to invite Sri Ravindra Varma, Sri. PV Rajagopal and Dr. S. N. Subbarao for the programme. While some have regretted due to conflict of dates, CYSD is suggesting postponing the event to 26-27, or 27-28, March 2005.
While Sri Raju Rajagopal was consulted on the National consultation, Madras Development Society (www.mdsindia.net) is having an International Consultation mostly covering the aspects on which CYSD is proposing from 3-5, April 2005 at Chennai. In fact, Mr. Poddar has also requested Mr. Rajagopal to assess whether there is a need for two Consultations. He is suggesting us to visit the web, see whether we can influence to get our themes incorporated (if they are not covered already) and thereby we can bring in synergy on this.
I solicit response from all the RIM and network organizations.
Funds
RIM has good response on the fund raising and resource mobilization.
· It is very likely that Plan International will fund two years rehabilitation measures of RIM in Tharangampadi cluster.
· Indian Friends Association headed by Dr. Prithvi have released Rs. 656323 (equivalent to $15000) for RIM’s rehabilitation initiatives.
· West Bengal Gandhi Peace Foundation has donated Rs. 50000 to RIM.
· RIM has been invited by Sri Shivakumar of Gandhigram Trust to submit a proposal to work on agriculture, capacity building of CBOs, revival of water bodies etc., under the support of Centre for World Solidarity, Hyderabad. CWS team will visit Tharangampadi on the 26th and RIM shall be requested to make a presentation on the 27th at Nagapattinam to CWS team.
Volunteers:
We have been getting very good volunteers’ support as well.
* Mr. Vijay Krishna with his sister will visit Chennai tsunami hit areas (where Exnora is working) on the 24th and shall spend 25-27 at Tharangampadi. Mr. Vijay Krishna was RIM USA member and who created the website for RIM. He is currently at Bangalore.
* Dr. Shantaram has communicated that he will volunteer a month’s time with RIM in June (planning to arrive by Mid May 05).
* Sri Thyagu and Ms. Sabera have also some 5 volunteers who are willing to join. They can join anytime now as Cash for work programme will have a major impact in the month of March.
Networking with local NGOs
* Today, we had a detailed discussion with Mr. Muthuvelayudham and Mr. Arun of CCD at RIM office, Chittlapakkam. CCD has done commendable work in terms of agriculture land reclamation by cleaning the canals, flushing the lands and providing cotton seeds. Kumarakudi – one of the agriculture operational villages of RIM has been covered by them for these activities. At Manickapangu also they have already hired JCP and other equipments and finding it difficult to withdraw after RIM’s request. It has been mutually agreed that Kumarakudi will be covered by CCD for all agriculture activities (even there ploughing with bullocks can be supported by RIM) and at Manickapangu with the currently initiated activities on agriculture, CCD will coopt with RIM for future activities. Veppancheri will be fully covered by RIM. This means in all the three villages RIM can work on dry land ploughing can be supported by RIM. CCD has been requested to share their technical expertise and guidance (as they are also seeking advise directly from the people as well as MSSRF, MCRC, C.S. Foundation and other groups). This has been broadly agreed to.
* Similarly, EHST – a local NGO was having some different of opinion on the count that RIM has taken up entitlement monitoring (RIM did not know that the Rs. 1 lakh compensation case was earlier handled by them and RIM SS acted purely at the request of the beneficiary) and this has also been sorted out. Even enabling 7 outlawed families by the panchayat in Manickapangu has also been informed to EHST and they suggested RIM itself to handle the same.
* Ms. Sathya and Varalakshmi of ASHA for Education had a meeting with us today and took note of various activities carried out by RIM so far on tsunami relief and rehabilitation.
Infrastructure
· A computer has been purchased today and transported to Tharangampadi – thanks to the donation by Mr. Jagdish Damania. Gas stove, utensils and some infrastructure requirements have also been bought and sent. We are looking for a better accommodation at Thirukkadaiyur and the Tharangampadi office will be shifted there once we find a suitable place.