| Caritas India |
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Silent Night, Holy Night.
All is calm, all is bright……….Sleep in Heavenly
Peace, Sleep in Heavenly Peace……. Little did so many
thousands who sang or heard this melody on Christmas Day 2004 know,
that indeed even before the
strains of the hymn could die out, they would sleep in heavenly
peace! As we take stock of the year gone by, when we have been accompanying
closely the communities in the Tsunami devastated areas of Tamilnadu,
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, we
are left with awe at the hope that dominates the hearts of the affected
families, who have overcome the waves of trauma and despair. The
results of Caritas' response are clearly visible to the world, since
they are monitored by our local and global partners. 76,864 children
speak up for the support that they have received through educational
kits, activity centres and trauma care, germinating new seeds of
hope and life in their tender hearts. The entire seascape of the
fishing communities has changed as they have been provided 1,109
new boats, 1,001 boat engines, 1,737 boats repaired and 34,549 fishing
nets. This, together with appropriate gadgets and community-based
support has enabled the fisher folk to plunge into the seas and
catch fish in abundance. 7,974 people have undergone vocational
training in order to venture into new alternatives in the livelihood
sector and more people are in the process of being trained. At the
level of rural communities, 1,854 new self-help groups have also
been formed to initiate local self-governance in the areas of livelihood,
permanent housing as well as psycho-social care. Out of the proposed
17,360 houses for the Tsunami homeless, nearly, 2,000 families would
be st able to move into new homes by the 1anniversary of the Tsunami.
Further, an inter-disciplinary team undertook an integrated evaluation
study, the findings of which have brought out new learnings, which
we intend to incorporate in
the ongoing implementation. The future lies really in linking relief
and rehabilitation efforts with the long-term development programme
of the communities. The vision of community-based disaster preparedness,
henceforth would take prime importance and the road-map for this
has already been set. As we arrive at the 1 anniversary of the Tsunami,
we are greatly inspired and motivated by the resilience and hope
of the grassroot communities. Caritas network is immensely proud
of the results of its outreach and assistance. We place on record
our appreciation to the Network Partners for their unconditional
support and to all those who have contributed generously. As the
new year approaches, we resolve to move ahead with enhanced dedication
to rebuild lives and reconstruct a new social order, in which the
hearts of the affected people resonate the joyful chorus 'Gloria
in excelsis Deo !' |
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Fr. John L. Noronha
Executive Director |
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To
them the world looked like an
awful place…tsunami had left them
'bereaved'… 'bereavement', which is Tone of the
most difficult, painful, and draining experiences. Their
world had crumbled leaving them empty, sad, and confused.
Tsunami was even more sudden and threatening event for
the children. It
disturbed their basic assumption about the world; that
the world is a safe and controllable place. Their reactions
were all the more intense since they did not understand
what is going on around them and the adults- supposed
to be their role
models were themselves in a gloom.
People have remarkable capabilities to overcome crisis
using their own inner resources with support of the friends
and the loved ones. Caritas India |
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The
sea had snatched
my future |
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The Tsunami waves have
carried away my future and it is
in the sea now.” 20-year-old
Arulmozhi, daughter of
Chellappan and Muthulakshmi
o f K a n a g a c h e t t i ku l a m ,
Pondicherry was swept away by
the killer waves for about 50
meters and was hit against a
wall. With a prolonged stay of 3 |
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in the hospital and with 6 surgeries to correct her respiratory
system, she feels very low and cut off. Her windpipe is punctured
and a tube is inserted at the outset to help her breathe better.
Arulmozhi suffers from “SUBGLOTTIC STENOSIS- due to prolonged
drowning into the seawater. She needs to undergo two more surgeries
that would cost her an earth. Her elder brother too is missing
and the entire family is going through hell. Caritas psychosocial
support worker approached her and built an empathetic relationship
with her, encouraging her to be with the village peer group. |
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recognized this and
offered to be that
special friend…that concerned aide.
Our
psycho-social experts were hopeful that
what people are feeling today they will not
feel tomorrow, next week or next month.
Post Traumatic Stress and high-risk behaviors forced us to formulate
a long-term strategy for psychosocial interventions. Caritas
India entered into partnership with rural organisation dealing
in psychological health organizations like SAARTHAK and CHAI.
Our partners in various dioceses have been able to offer support
like individual
and family counseling, empathetic listening, medical help, and
referrals for professional help springing new hope in the lives
of the affected - Sr. Roselyn K., Coordinator Psycho-Social
Support Sector, Tsunami Coordination Office, Chennai. |
| Highlights
of Psycho-Social Care activities: |
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200
psychosocial support workers have been trained in Tamil
Nadu, Kerala, Andhra and Andamans. |
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Building
empathetic and trust worthy relationship with communities |
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Identifying
problems, needs, risks in the communities. |
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Making
communities aware of their rights and available resources;
and gradually link them to these resources. |
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Creating
enabling & protective environment for girls and children. |
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Analyzing
children's psychological needs & conducting child
centered activities. |
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Making
referrals for professional help for psychological and
physical needs. |
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Wounded
Healers
working in empathetic
solidarity |
25 year old Sumathi
from Car Nicobar
island experienced hanting nights after
Tsunami. The horrific sounds of
speeding (at 500 kms. Per hour) of
Tsunami wave and cries of human
agony kept on replaying on her mind,
every night as she closed her eyes to
catch up some sleep. Such
hallucinations made her jump out of
sleep and stare into nothingness.
Sumathi along with her husband and
child survived the tsunami and were |
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Sr. Annamma with
Sumathi and Nisha |
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brought
to Bamboo flat relief camp
along with 2,500 other survivors.
Anorexia, insomnia and apathy drained her physical and mental
energies day by day, until Sr. Annamma walked into her
portals of trauma and fear to talk her out of it. After a few
days of patient listening and talking, Sr. Annamma testifies
in amazement, “She`s just out of all recognition, I hardly
believe it`s the same woman I met weeks before. Just look at
her shining eyes and her bright smile. And did you notice the
way she is
enjoying her work?” It took Annama a lot of patience to
reach Sumathi`s soul. Patience and love. Sumathi eventually
underwent training in psycho-social work and became an animator.
Having experienced the trauma, she is able to understand other
people in similar situations. |
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Since
psychosocial workers from the local Caritas take care of her
by the hand and to the shore - she learns to rediscover the
sea as a friend. Kalpana, the psycho-social animator
from PMSSS (local Caritas) has been accompanying Manghata in
this journey. |
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Sumathi talking
with Nisha
about life after the tsunami |
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tsunami movie. By talking to Sumathi”, Nisha
says, “hope grew within me. I realized that
my old life is over, but a new life will start.
Only months ago, life was dull and I didn`t feel
like doing just anything. And now”, she acknowledges
with beaming smile, “I found the love of my
life, right here in the temporary shelter: I married
a few weeks ago.” |
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year old Selvam, a restaurant owner in Car Nic and Rada
who smashed her head against a wall due to tsunami wave,
but miraculously survived - confided to Sumathi and are
journeying out of Trauma. |
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year old Nisha, who was emotionally spent, confined her
activities to lying on a mattress all day, quite sure
her life was over at the age of 18. Nisha was suffering
from the same symptoms as Sumathi: Anorexia. Insomnia.
Apathy. The horror sounds and images of tsunami played
and re-played in her brain all over and over again - |
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Sr. Annama
and a Caritas-member
during a counselling session |
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Caritas-animators
are accompanying more than 2500 such families. European
Commission Humanitarian
Aid is in partnership with Caritas India and PMSSS in
realizing this mission to restore the lives of the affected
people, not only materially, but also integrally
resurrecting the human spirit. |
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Permanent Safe Homes
f o r t h e t s u n a m i h o m e l e s s |
'House owner',
isn't it a gorgeous word? There's something about things that are
yours... One would love the feeling of shutting the door on your own
home each night and turning off all the lights before going to bed.
The December 26, 2004 tsunami deprived thousands of people of tsunami
deprived thousands of people of
this wonderful feeling, rendering them homeless. For the past one
year, Caritas India has been striving to provide this security to
the tsunami sufferers…the very security of having a roof on
their heads...their very own home.
The mission statement of the Caritas Shelter scheme says,
“To build durable homes of good quality
and self-contained Habitats
to live a wholesome life in harmony with nature.” |
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Nadu & Pondicherry |
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Chairman of Caritas
- Bishop Remigius with head of EDMS visiting Colachal, KSSS |
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| Policy
for new houses and villages |
Size of the
plot: 1,5 cent in municipal area, 3 cents in rural area
Size of the house: 300 325 sq.ft
Cost of the house: 1,5 Lakhs
Disaster resistant structure provided with water, drains,
and electricity
All new houses will be insured for 10years and the title
of the house will be given in the joint name of husband
and wife |
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Shelter team in Tamil Nadu: |
Ms. Gertrud
Tauber, Architect, Caritas International /Austria
Mr. Karunakaran, Structural Engineer, Caritas India
Brgd. Joseph, Civil Engineer, Caritas India
Mr. Bernhard Shaw, Structural Engineer, Caritas India |
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Mr. Karunakaran
our shelter consultant in
discussion with Mr. Gerhard Meier and team |
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The
state government of Kerala has entrusted the responsibility
of Tconstructing 1222 houses for tsunami victims to Caritas
India along with it's seven
diocesan counterparts. Caritas
and its counterparts are the
second largest player in the
rehabilitation by way of
permanent housing. |
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Shri Oomen Chandy,
Hon'ble Chief Minister of Kerela inaugurating Tsunami Housing
Insurance Scheme with Caritas and local Church officials in
Kochi |
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Well-qualified
and
experienced engineers of
GCDA and PWD are
carrying out construction
for most of the houses in
Kerala. These engineers
have been making regular
v i s i t s . B e n e f i c i a r y
committees are also formed who assist in
construction as much
r e q u i r e d . R e v i e w
meetings are being
conducted to assess the
progress. |
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Housing colony
in Kochi constructed in partnership between Caritas and
Verapoly Social Service Society |
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All the 1222 houses
constructed for the tsunami hit victims of Kerala will be insured
for 10 years.
In Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, 17 houses have been built
and 50 damaged houses are being reconstructed in Njarackal and
Kuzhuppilly villages.
The Archdiocese of Verapoly has constructed 51 houses. Erankulam
Social Service Society in collaboration with Caritas India has
also constructed 440 rainwater harvesting tanks.
Caritas India is re-building houses in the coastal regions ravaged
by the devastating tsunami with a long term perspective.
Speed and quality are the hallmarks of the construction process
in Kerala. |
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Confident
Vinod and Mohini
Look
to the future with hope… |
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Mr.
Vinod is the beneficiary family of the housing project. The
family lived in the coastal village of Narakkal in Ernakulam
district of Kerala state. Their small tiled hut was completely
damaged in the wrath of the tsunami waves. They were shifted
to the nearby school for three weeks and then to a relative's
house. They had nothing left in the family after the disaster.
The father and mother of Vinod were sick and aged.
Vinod and Mohini are blessed with two children named Aswini
(4 yrs ) and Anjaly ( 2 yrs). Mohini, wife of Vinod does the
household activities and looks after the children. The only
income of the family is the returns of Vinod from the fishing
activities. He does not have a boat or net of his own; hence,
is employed as a labourer by other boat owners.
The newly built house has really helped the family to settle
in the same coastal village and they are very proud about
returning to their original village. It has two good rooms,
a hall and a kitchen. Mohini has joined the Self help Group
formed in the village and has become an active member. They
are planning to venture into some viable economic activity
to meet their increasing day to day needs. . The fear and
insecurity has been overcome. The days have become sunny.
Mohini and Vinod thank God and their benefactors for this
great blessing. Fr. Paul Moonjely Director, Welfare Services
Ernakulam |
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Pradesh |
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Unique
feature of A.P. State Housing policy for Tsunami affected
families is the
inclusion of the other vulnerable sections
such as SC and ST population who have lived in perpetual
poverty. The State Government, hence, has included vast
number of families from the weaker sections along the
fisher folk families
affected by Tsunami.
All the four diocesan counterparts of Caritas India have
started the construction process for permanent housing. |
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Eluru
diocese has acquired the possession certificates from
2 villages and work has already started. The government
of Andhra Pradesh has allotted the site for construction.
In Vijayawada possession certificates are obtained from
all the eneficiaries and material is being supplied to
the construction site. Staff has been appointed as per
the project. In 3 villages the work is in progress and
the engineers have marked 91 houses and material is transported
to the work site. |
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Nellore diocese has started construction in
9 villages and the work is in progress. The construction of
228 has reached the basement level, 166 to the lintel level
and 26 to the roof level. The government has not yet cleared
the site for 544 houses for which negotiations with the people
and the government are in progress.
Guntur dioceses has completed the formalities of getting the
approval from the local MRO for the site and shall start the
construction work soon. |
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Do you
want to know more about Devanampattinam? Look at the website
of PMSSS (www.pmsss.org.in) everyday and you will be surprised
to see the daily progress states emphatically Fr. Ratchagar,
the Director
of Pondicherry Multipurpose Social Service Societies, working
at almost 'tsunami-speed' to complete 648 houses at least a
week before the th 26 of December 2005 (the first anniversary
of tsunami 2004). The first fibre glass fishing boats left for
the sea within 60 days after tsunami, in order to ensure that
village life returns to normalcy. The first day catch was incredible.
As the Principal of a leading school in Cuddalore, Fr. Ratchagar
always dreamt of doing something tangible to bring change and
prosperity into the lives of the people. Tsunami has opened
up the avenue for him to facilitate |
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Caritas team
in interaction with the community members working for
their housing. |
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Focus
The family income
has increased
steadily due to
diverse income
generating
activities initiated
and managed by
self help groups. |
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Ms. Mahalakshmi,
tailoring training
instructress, Mr.
Martin with Ms.
Bengwanti from
Indonesia. |
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"After
tsunami, we are witnessing a real upsurge of opportunities in
our village. Our handicraft products are in good demand; hence,
we are able to generate extra amounts of income. Young women
like me have a chance to come forward and take advantage of
the new chances."
Ms. Mahalakshmi, Instructress
for fancy bag making unit in Devanampattinam |
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ICT
Innovation
Three times a day the weather
forecast
downloaded from internet is broadcast
whole village. The fisher men can now
decide whether to go for fishing or not.
fact, this weather bulletin has become
a referral for the local police and
other local alert cells at panchayat level. |
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| Weather bulletin broadcast
in action |
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concrete
development process with the community in Devanampattinam. PMSSS is
in fact working in 20 villages in both the territories of Pondicherry
and Cuddalore.
The architect and builders have been given the target of ensuring
that 647 families can move into their permanent homes in the beginning
of the new year.
The other innovative initiatives are 'vermicompositing' through an
ingeniously developed method called 'pancharatna' and |
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Tamizhkumaranan,
a Jasmine cultivator in iscussion with Fr. Ratchagar |
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| Devanampattinam
Focus |
Ma
i n c r o p o f Devanampattinam is Jasmine. The lands were inundated
due to tsunami waves. As a result, the lands turned saline.
As a process of desalination, natural farming has been introduced
through Vermi compost & Vermi culture.
Tangible effect is seen by the farmers. The crop which was reduced
to 10 times is now growing upto 3 times so far. |
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'navaratna'
using the products of the cows which have shown a significant difference
in the cultivation of the jasmies. The yield is 200% greater. Further,
the community development centre has become a hub of activities for
Self Help Groups - Tailoring Students - Computer Learning youth -
Handicraft production
groups. Is Tsunami a curse or a blessing in disguise, no one cay say?
The local counterpart of Caritas India,
PMSSS - Pondicherry Multipurpose Social Service Society has, in fact,
provided a pioneering leadership in the person of Fr. Ratchagar, who
along with his dedicated teams of community organisers and animators
has changed the landscape of the village life in an unprecedented
manner. The entire process is resulting into a 'model' Indian village
which according to Mission 2007 - will even deserve an award. The
perseverance and dynamic spirit of the villagers: women - young girls
and boys, certainly make us bow in humility and deepest reverence
to the unbroken human spirit of the community, though the village
has suffered the most in terms of human - material - financial losses.
R.K |
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| Pancharatna
/ Navartna are the organic vermicomposts people
generate using the products of cow (including cow
dug, ghee, etc.) |
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"
I am really fortunate that such a modern educational
facility is available in my own village. After attending
my degree classes, I can attend computer classes
at my leisure and benefit
from it "
Sarada, Degree Student from Devanampattinam |
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| Computer educational
center is run by PMSSS for the youth of the village. Sarada
(in the foreground) is a graduate student learning computer
during her free time |
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| Fisher
folk of the peninsular India are amongst the poorest people
in the region. Though they are the ones who manage the shoreline,
mangroves and coastal fishing zones i.e. the health of the oceans;
but they are ones most neglected. After tsunami many are fearful
of returning to the sea. Caritas India extended support to these
fisher folks by restoration of their livelihoods, and re-equipping
them for sustainable fishing. Apart from ensuring that they
have a fair share in the market, Caritas India is making efforts
to enable them to ensure future safety at sea and disaster preparedness
measures. |
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Livelihood
Restoration includes:
Provision of Boats, Engines, Nets, Vocational
Training, Cash for work with the integration of community
mobilization and Self Help Group Formation |
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Participatory
Rural Appraisal exercise in the context of micro
planning process in the community |
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Catamaran
(Traditional Boat) manufacturing unit |
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| Sunnampudi Nagarjunna from Nizampatanam,
Guntur, A.P. is ever grateful for the support his family received
to repair the damaged boat. Today he earns Rs. 200 per day to
sustain his family |
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Shri D.S. Negi,
Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar
Administration appreciates the work
done by Caritas India, European Commission
Humanitarian Aid, CRS and Association of
Catholic Andaman & Nicobar Islands (ACANI) |
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wooden boats are manufactured as per the specifications provided
by the fisher folk committee in partnership with Andaman fisheries
department, ACANI, European Commission Humanitarian Aid and
Caritas to benefit the 125 fisher families in Campbell Bay,
Great Nicobar.
All the boats are insured. Licences are also provided by the
Andaman & Nicobar Administration. |
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