"Tsunami" - a never before heard of disaster in this part of the world has played havoc on the black Sunday morning on the 26th December 2004. Like any other calamity, even in this disaster, it is only the poorest of the poor who are affected. Tamilnadu has a coastal line of 1016 KM and along the coast there were sea waves incursion with a height of 7 to 10 meters into land to an extent of 1 to 1.5 KM Inland from North of Chennai to Kanyakumari. The areas affected include Pudhupattinam - Kalpakkam cluster in Kanchipuram, Cuddalore, and the 85 KM coastal line of Nagapattinam and Kanyakumari districts. While tsunamis are rare, these communities are exposed to other coastal phenomena like tidal waves, cyclones and regular monsoon fury.

Rescue operations

EXNORA Volunteers jumped in to fray as soon as they realized the colossal devastation locally and contributed in removing the dead bodies, debris and saving the lives as much as possible by referring them to the nearest medical facilities. This was part of rescue operations and mostly contributed by Nagapattinam EXNORA local groups.

Immediate Relief Phase - Family start up Kit

Soon after the tragic occurrence, relief material flooded the affected areas, a sort of a "relief Tsunami" took place but the benefit didn't go to the victims since there was insufficient manpower to sort out the material and reach it in a systematic manner to all victims. Exnora, in consultation with other voluntary organization, therefore came up with the idea of a "Family Startup Kit" containing basic kitchen utensils, provisions etc to help affected families restart their life. This has been well received by the people and also the Government officials as it avoids wastage of material. The standard family start up kit consisting of essential kitchen utensils, essential provision, basic bedding and other household deeds costs Rs.1,350/-. This is especially useful in remote fishing hamlets where governmental relief measures don't reach in time or in adequate numbers.

Exnora USAID Tsunami Recovery and Rehabilitation Project

The Exnora USAID Tsunami Recovery and Rehabilitation Project was commenced from February 2005. The project covers the five affected districts of Nagapattinam, Chennai, Cuddalore, Tuticurin and Kanyakumari.

Goals:

To facilitate economic and social empowerment of tsunami-affected families with their participation and based on felt needs.

Objectives:

1. To rebuild the lives of the tsunami affected families by involving them in the development process.
2. To revitalize social infrastructure - CBOs, Civic groups during the permanent settlement phase to strengthen democratic processes and participatory methods.
3. To enable economic empowerment of tsunami victims by long-term skill training inputs, linkages for CBOs (women self help groups, men SHGs, farmers associations) through financial institutions and Government departments for restarting their lives.
4. To protect environment and ecology without hampering coastal zone people's interest by taking up CRZ, Tree plantation in coastal regions, SWM and eco-sanitation related issues.
5. To liaison with Government and other authorities on harnessing entitlements, policy framework changes and other issues of concern.
6. To network with NGOs / Institutions working in tsunami hit regions to cover the uncovered geographical regions / programmatic areas and thereby facilitate mutual exchange of experiences.

These objectives are clubbed in to five programmatic areas i.e. Solid Waste Management (SWM), Sanitation, Community Based Organisations, Livelihood Restoration and Environment Protection.

Awareness campaigns such as participatory card exercises, Film shows, Street Plays and door to door campaigns by Change Majers are the basic step towards implementing SWM. Source segregation of waste as Inorganic and Organic is implemented. The supply of all equipments such as the red and green waste bins for source segregation, tricycle for the street beautifier, gloves, uniforms and construction of the compost pit and Zero Waste Management Shed (ZWM) is done. Training and guidance is also given to the Street beautifiers and conservancy workers. The formation of Operation & Maintenance committees is also undertaken and finally approval from local authorities and representatives are also sought.

Workers engaged in Waste segregation process in SWM shed at Semmandalam, Cuddalore

Field Officer Paramanandan conducts SWM Training for Youth and Women Exnora at Kanyakumari

The objects of the sanitation program has been

1. To assist tsunami affected families with better sanitation, hygiene and waste disposal facilities.
2. To enhance the networking based on EXNORA's strengths and capabilities to outreach both in terms of geographical and programmatic areas.

The starting step of Sanitation is also by way of Awareness camps to show residents the consequences of unhygienic practices and open defecation. Due to the construction of 96 individual toilets there has been a marked fall in the number of diseases and other health benefits. Film shows, Information Education and Communication (IEC) Campaigns, Posters and other mediums are used to teach children hygienic practices. Implementation of day to day activities is done by Operation & Maintenance committees. The project has also seen the repair and refurbishment of public toilets that were in a dilapidated state.

Renovated public toilet at Panaiyurkuppam was inaugurated on 30th March 2006. Mr. A.L. Rangarajan was the chief guest and the function was attended by the representatives from local administration, women SHG members and fisherfolk leaders.

The aim of creating Community Based Organisations CBOs is to strengthen democratic process and participatory methods and mutual exchange with NGOs and CBOs working among Tsunami affected population. We have seen the formation of many CBOs such as Women's Exnora, Youth Exnora Groups, Student Exnora, Children Exnora and Civic Exnora. As a result we have found that activities when backed by a CBO will have more voice and power. The members give themselves strength to carry out activities. We have formed 39 CBOs over the project areas and they are doing commendable work.

Youth Exnora Members Involved In Flood Relief In Vanagiri

The main focus here has been to enable economic empowerment of Tsunami victims through various livelihood related activities. This is done mainly through Self Help Groups, Training in various skills are given, these have enabled victims (especially women) to be able to have a source of income and be independent. We have also implemented training through cooperation with other NGOs.

Exnora has partnered with Vilathikulam Empowering Movement for Building the Underprivileged to conduct skill training in Vilathikulam, Tuticorin. VEMBU has been a Don Bosco Mission and has conducted skill training for men on Boat Maintenance and Engine Repairing and women on Dry Fish Powder Processing and Fish Pickle Making

A training programme on phenol making has been arranged for 47 women from I.T.I, Akkaraipettai, Keechankuppam & A.D.J Polytechnic Temporary shelters by Exnora International.

Through 152 skill training program, 4502 mem and women of tsunami affected villages were given orientation on various alternative livelihood skills.

Protection of the ecology, without hampering coastal zone and local interests has been part of our project. Various Tree planting campaigns and environmental awareness programs have been conducted.

Tree plantation initiatives are a part of the initiative to provide sufficient green cover for the coastal belts. This has been undertaken in a big way during the period October to December 2005. Exnora has also been a part of a Guiness World Record set by Wipro and BITsunami to plant a total of 2,54,464 trees in a single day. The activity was conducted in Naluvethapathy, Vedaranyam Taluk, and Nagapattinam District from 3pm on the 1st of October to 3pm on the 2nd of October. The initiative was organised by personnel from Wipro and BITsunami. Exnora was involved to the extent of its Change Makers, Youth Exnora groups and Exnora Innovators Club of Nagapattinam providing manpower to complete this project. The initiative was flagged off by the Nagapattinam district Collector.

Exnora with the support of USAID collaborating with FERAL planted 4910 saplings of 47 varieties of sea water resistant trees in Vanagiri, Thirumulaivassal and Poombuhar.

SHG members along with local councilors and EI's field staff planting coconut saplings behind the public toilet block at Panniyurkuppam

Tree Planting At Thirumulaivassal