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.
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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
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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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