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| PROGRESS
REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2006 |
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| AREA OF OPERATION |
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| The Tsunami Response
Program in Tamil Nadu is being carried out through the 8 diocesan
partners covering the coastal area from Chennai to Kanyakumari. The
extent of their working area is given below in the table. |
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| The Immediate
Humanitarian Relief and Intermediate Re-Settlement Relief Phases were
completed successfully and all the partners are working on the Rehabilitation
activities. The Rehabilitation activities can be broadly classified
as follows: |
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| Under each sector
the activities are progressing in an efficient manner with help and
guidance from the sector specialists. The activities of the Tsunami
Response Program are coordinated by the Caritas Tsunami Relief &
Rehabilitation Coordination Centre which networks with the various
partners and stakeholders. The State Level Coordination Meetings which
are held regularly help in information sharing and to address common
issues and challenges. Continuous monitoring and evaluation is being
done at the diocesan level as well as from Caritas level. This helps
in ensuring that qualitative services are rendered. The detailed activities
carried out in the month of February are given below. |
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| LIVELIHOOD |
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| FISHING RELATED
ACTIVITIES |
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| The Diocesan
Social Service Societies have helped in restoring the livelihood of
the fishermen community by replacing lost livelihood assets like boats,
engines, nets, catamarans, vallams, vathais etc as well as repairing
boats and engines which were damaged. The repairing activities have
been completed and a total of 349 boats and 585 engines have been
repaired |
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| The types of
livelihood assets replaced depend on the types of crafts used by the
particular community. They are area-specific. The following table
gives an idea as to which kind of livelihood equipment was given in
each area. |
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| NON-FISHING
RELATED ACTIVITIES |
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Chengelpet: In
the scope of providing alternate livelihood, CRDS is conducting carpentry
training for 20 youth who could be meaningfully employed after completion
of the training. |
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Pondycherry:
Many youth have taken up courses for alternate livelihood like A/C
mechanism, wheel alignment, automobile course, electrical course,
cell phone mechanism, welding from different institutions offering
these courses like Pondycherry ITI, St. Joseph’s ITI, Cuddalore
and SISI. Fancy bag production unit is going on at Vaithikuppam. Mushroom
culture unit & vermi compost unit are functioning in Devanampattinam.
Drumstick seeds, paddy seeds, jasmine plants have been distributed
to farmers. |
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South Arcot:
Financial assistance has been given to start petty shop. SAMSS offers
training in EDP, Leadership & Issue based training and Job placement.
Under job placement, 195 companies & 330 candidates have been
enrolled. 60 have been placed in jobs.26 students received career
guidance and counseling. In Eco-Balancing programme training is given
to farmers on sustainable agriculture. |
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Thanjavur: Tailoring
unit is functioning effectively in South Poigainallur, Pushvanam &
Maniantheevu. |
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Tuticorin: Income
generation equipments/ materials were distributed to 8 villages. The
third batch of JCB training has been started with 59 students. Driving
courses are functioning efficiently and new batch of students are
being taken from different villages. The first batch of Shipping Management/
Office Secretary Course has been completed and exam is scheduled to
take place on the 3rd & 4th of March. |
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Kottar: 71 women
were helped to restore livelihood for improved alternate livelihood. |
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Sivagangai: Afforestation
is a major activity taken up by SMSSS. Nursery has been raised at
Pasipattinam & Soliyakudi. Spade work is done at Nambuthalai.
Training was conducted at Uppoor, Pasipattinam & Thondi. Exposure
program was arranged for 22 leaders from the project villages to Chithambaram
& Pitchavaram Mangrove forest on 21st & 22nd February 2006. |
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| SHELTER |
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| In Tamil Nadu,
approximately 8000 permanent shelters are to be constructed. The land
is allotted by the Government in most of the places. In situ construction
is done in one DSSS due to non-availability of land. The external
facilities are to be provided by the Government. |
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| OVERVIEW |
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| Contract yet to be finalized for 3552 houses. |
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| MONTHLY
PROGRESS- FEBRUARY 2006 |
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| MSSS |
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MoU has been
signed with the Collector of Tiruvallur District.
Agreement with the PMC has been made on the 27th of February 2006.
Land survey, soil testing, master plan and house design being taken
up |
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| CRDS |
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| Land
not available; hence construction is to be done in situ. |
| I |
Drawings approved by Government and work commenced
in 4 villages. |
| a |
Semmanchery |
| b |
Kadalur Periya
Kuppam |
| c |
Thazhuthali Kuppam |
| d |
Panaiyur Chinna
Kuppam |
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| II |
Drawings approved by Government for 3 villages. |
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a |
Meyyur Kuppam |
| b |
Sadras (N &
S) Kuppam |
| c |
Pudupatinam Kuppam |
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| PMSSS |
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All 648 houses
in Devanampattinam have been completed.
Inauguration scheduled for 2nd March 2006.
For 210 houses at Karaikal, land filling is to be done by Government. |
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| SAMSSS |
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| Work is in progress
for 392 houses and 68 houses are to be started. |
TMSSS (Thanjavur)
Most of the areas require filling as they are low-lying areas. |
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| TMSSS (Tuticorin) |
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In Kallamozhi,
soil condition is poor hence progress is slow.
Shuttering is being used for earth work.
Land for 300 houses to be given at Kuthankuli
Land demarcation by Government and layout to be finalized |
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| KSSS |
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| At Colachel salt
pan area, land filling is completed; after soil testing design of
foundation is to be finalized. |
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| COMMUNITY
ORGANISATION |
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| Under community
organization, Self Help Groups (SHGs) are formed, trained and equipped
to become sustainable. SHGs can consist of women, men, youth, physically
challenged, widows, children etc. The community is organized into
such groups and capacitated to contribute towards the development
of the community as a whole. Individuals of the groups |
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|
Chennai: The Programme Coordinator
of MSSS, Mr. Joseph attended the consultation meeting on Livelihood
organized by Chennai NGOs Coordination Committee. On 12th February
2006 there was a network meeting at Loyola College with network members
& Loyola professors on the programmes & budget of network
project. |
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Chengelpet: CRDS participated
in the De-Briefing by Desk Officers at Hotel Breeze, Chennai and the
PMC workshop at Trichy on Sanitation issues. |
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Pondycherry: Participated
in Global Strategy & Capacity building guidelines, 2 days’
workshop on Disaster Preparedness & Response in Karl Kubel, 2
days’ workshop on Rural Technologies & 3 days’ seminar
on long term rehabilitation of tsunami victims on health. Formation
of Cuddalore Resource centre took place on 16th February 2006. |
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South Arcot: The Director
& the PMC attended the State level PMC workshop held in Trichy.
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Tuticorin: Regular contact
with the NGOs working in the Tsunami affected areas is being kept
especially with RUC which is working in 2 villages namely Idinthakarai
& Perumanal. |
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Kottar: KSSS actively participated
in coordination meetings held within and outside the diocesan structures.
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Sivagangai: Coordination
meeting was organized for the staff working in the Tsunami affected
areas of Thiruvadanai, Mandapam & Kadaladi blocks. Coordination
meetings like this help the staff to capacitate themselves as well
as share and learn from each other. |
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| GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS |
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| The Government
maintains cordial relations with Caritas and our implementing partners
due to the remarkable work carried out in all the target areas. The
cooperation and participation of the Government authorities is seen
in all the places. Though the District Administration pressurizes
the partners to complete the work soon, on the whole they are supportive
and encouraging knowing that Caritas would not compromise in quality
of services rendered. |
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Chennai: A community meeting
was organized by MSSS at Sattankuppam village to discuss on the Shelter
programme. The panchayath presidents attended this meeting and expressed
their assurance to cooperate with the shelter construction programmes.
The District Administration has agreed to provide for all external
services like road, electricity, drinking water, common facilities
like school, community hall & balwadi. |
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Chengelpet: In the month
of February, the SDC was met on various occasions to hand over beneficiaries
list, letter and drawings, to clarify drawings and doubts regarding
the shelter programme. |
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Pondycherry: Weekly meetings
of NGOs with Cuddalore District are held on Monday afternoons. PMSSS
maintains excellent relations with the local administration and the
facilitating role of Government is good. The issue of left out beneficiaries
for permanent houses has been brought to the District Administration
and efforts are being made for reconciliation. |
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South Arcot: The Collectors’
meeting which is held every week is attended regularly by the PMC. |
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Thanjavur: The relations
with the local Government is good. The shelter team member Ms. Gertrud
& Fr. Sengole discussed with Additional
Collector regarding permanent house work at Nagapattinam District
on 10th February 2006. |
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Sivagangai: Good relationship
is maintained with the District Administration as well as the Forest
Department. |
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| VISITS |
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| Visitors from
Caritas, CRS, Government, Funding Partners as well as other NGOs regularly
visit the DSSS and the target areas for various purposes. These visits
help in confirming that the project is moving forward in the right
direction and there is progress in the activities undertaken. |
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Chennai: Monthly review
& planning meetings of the project staff, monthly NGO coordination
meeting, regular field visits & meeting with the District Administration
& Fisheries Department are ways of monitoring & evaluation
followed by MSSS. |
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Pondycherry: Monthly staff
meetings, weekly area meeting, field visits by the program coordinator
& Director as well as the monthly DSSS meeting help in monitoring
and evaluating the project. |
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South Arcot: Weekly reports
submitted by the staff and monthly reports submitted by the animators
serve as monitoring tools for the progress of the program. |
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Tuticorin: On February 6th
training programme was conducted for Special Coordinator, Coordinator
& Animators. The team members had interaction with the youth attending
vocational training on February 3rd & 4th. |
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Kottar: The programmes are
monitored by Tsunami Relief & Rehabilitation team under tsunami
relief & rehabilitation coordinator. At village level this team
facilitates the monitoring skills of village development council.
Monthly as well as weekly review meetings are held for evaluating
the programme. |
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Sivagangai: Monitoring &
Evaluation of the programme is done in the R.P.T meeting organized
regularly. |
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| CHALLENGES |
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| Unforeseen Challenges
are faced in different sectors as work progresses. But they are resolved
either by the DSSS themselves or through the guidance of the Caritas
team. |
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Chennai: A payment of Rs
1000/ has to be made for getting the house plan approved by the local
panchayath which was not an expected expense. Negotiations are going
on to address this problem. In Kottaikuppam area due to the increase
in number of boats, the passage for moving the boats into the sea
and for parking the boats has become congested. Hence there is a need
for deepening of the canal to prevent damages to the boats. |
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Chengelpet: Other NGOs interfere
with the SHGs formed by CRDS which is in the process of being resolved. |
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Pondycherry: The Pondycherry
Govt. has not yet found suitable land for construction of permanent
houses in Periyakalapet and efforts are being made to expedite the
process. Collecting back the principal revolving fund from the SHGs
is a major challenge. |
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Thanjavur: Community centre
problem at Vailankanni Konar Thoopu site. TMSSS is forced by the District
Administration to do the work of leveling and sand filling as the
other NGOs are doing. |
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Tuticorin: In Koothankuzi,
due to local problems materials are not being finalized. |
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Sivagangai: As there are
very few carpenters available in Rameshwaram Island, there is an unavoidable
delay in manufacturing the Vathais. By the end of March 2006 the distribution
of fishing crafts would be completed. |
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| IMPORTANT
EVENTS |
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Chennai: Commissioning of
boats at Naduvourkuppam village, Pazhaverkadu area was blessed by
Most Rev.Dr. A. M. Chinnappa, Chairperson, MSSS on 17th February 2006. |
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Chengelpet: Desk Officers visit- Ms.
Mary Lucas, Ms. Pauline Mackeowen from CAFOD, Dr. Reinhard
A. Wurkner from Caritas Germany, Mr. Santhus & Ms. Annie from
Caritas India. |
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South Arcot: MoU for permanent
shelter at Azhagankuppam was signed on 20th February. A one day workshop
called “Kalvi Karutharangu” was organized in collaboration
with few other NGOs & the youth group of Anumandaikuppam in which
700 students participated. |
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Pondycherry: Fishing at
Cuddalore OT Sea for half an hour fetched 30kg fish worth Rs. 3000.
Disaster Preparedness Training inaugurated by Lt. Governor of Pondycherry
on 6th February 2006. Skill training in collaboration with CII had
been launched. |
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| TSUNAMI
RELIEF & REHABILITATION COORDINATION CENTRE |
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| VISITS |
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The Desk Officers of the
International Funding Partners visited the Diocesan partners and the
working areas from February 1st to 4th. |
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Visit of Mr. Karl Ammann,
Caritas Germany from February 11th to 23rd to the Coordination Centre
and some of the dioceses. |
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| COORDINATION |
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A one-day consultation meeting
was organized by EDMS department on Mangrove afforestation on 19th
at Trichy Multipurpose Social Service Society. At the end of the workshop
it was decided to review the works carried so far by other NGOs and
Government on these lines. This task of reviewing will be done by
Dr. Jayasree and Dr. Priya from Pondicherry University. |
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On 20th February the Shelter
team organized a workshop for the Project Management Consultants (PMC)
of all the dioceses involved in permanent shelter construction. The
PMCs presented on the progress in their area of operation. Dr. S.
Sundaramoorthy was the resource person for session on Water &
Sanitation. |
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The Coordination Centre
organized a one day consultation on CBDP (Community Based Disaster
Preparedness) on 21st February at Tamilnadu Social Service Society
(TASOSS), in which the shelter team, livelihood team, Mr. Haridhas,
Mr. Karl Ammann, Fr. Xavier & the PSOs participated. Presentations
were made by Ms. Milan & Ms. Annie on the 2nd phase of the ToT
in Kolkatta and by Mr. Karl Amman on “Mainstreaming CBDP”.
It has been decided to organize an orientation for the Directors .TASOSS
and Coordination centre will take lead to organize the same. |
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| TRAININGS |
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The Karl Kubel Institute
for Development Education (KKID) organized a 3 days workshop on Disaster
Preparedness & Response from February 14th to 16th in which Mr.
Santhus & Fr. Ratchagar, PMSSS participated. |
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Mr. Santhus participated
in National Workshop on Community Based Disaster Risk Management on
February 27th & 28th at Delhi. |
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| IMPORTANT
EVENTS |
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The De-briefing of the Desk
Officers visit was held on 4th February at Hotel Breeze, Chennai where
the desk officers gave their feedback and suggestions based on their
visits to the project areas. |