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Environment
Tsunami Relief Team Report

Alok Johri freelance photographer, based in Bangalore has sent this first-hand report of a visit to Nagapattinam, undertaken to assist relief work there.

Our intention:

  • To reach the Tsunami victims directly with whatever limited budget (Rs. 52,419 in hand) and other supplies we received from institutions and individuals
  • Main focus: Provide medical support, food and hardware (tools to repair boats)
  • Ascertain from the villagers their long term needs
  • An overview of the whole situation to garner and provide necessary support
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    What we faced:

  • As soon as we reached Nagapattanam at night, we were told that the Govt. is not allowing any private volunteers to enter the village.
  • We approached the first police station where Mr. R Balakrishnan – Sub-Inspector, Law & Order, immediately extended his full support to us by directing us to an NGO already involved in relief work
  • Unimaginable site of destruction, depression all around, desperate people following anyone and everyone for a pack of biscuit (was one of the most disturbing interactions)
  • Women and children’s haunting cries and fishermen staring at the sea, hoping to get back their livelihood and very life
  • Ministers and VIP’s visits every 2-3 hours, which blocked the route for volunteers to reach the villagers. Security and local authorities running after them. Media too joined the rat race.
  • Volunteers of a popular Bangalore-based religious group roaming around with their guru's photograph on their chests
  • Another religious Trust’s air conditioned vans crowding the traffic
  • Not a single medical camp set-up in the entire village

    What we did:
    Day 1

  • First thing we met the President of the Gandeepam Global Foundation (GGF), an NGO and explained our plan
  • He immediately extended his support by letting our volunteers work under his banner with few volunteers
  • We identified a small site, removed the debris, sprayed bleaching powder, set up medical camp
  • While some of us were busy setting up the medical camp, some went around house-to-house informing villagers about the medical camp
  • Once the medical camp started rolling, some of us opened the food supply and started distributing, our food supply vanished within no time, reaching approximately 300-400 families
  • Once this was done we moved with mobile medical camp in our van to another location where we had some 300 odd patients. With no electricity we used our van’s head-light to run the camp

    Day 2

  • First thing in the morning, we set our medical camp at the same site, where half the members of our group along with other volunteers, headed by Dr. Daya Prasad, treated nearly 1000-1200 patients
  • While this group was working at the medical camp, with only Rs 4,000 left, 2 of us went to the nearest market and bought some daily supply for the villagers, made 150 packets with assorted supply of provisions.
  • Once the medical supply was completely exhausted, we all distributed packets from house-to-house, along with clothes and hardware for the fishermen.

    What they are left with:

  • Some literally have nothing
  • Some are absolutely alone, no kids, wives/husbands, parents or relatives
  • Only hope

    What they need most:

  • Regular food supply
  • They need help, not insensitive media attention projecting Ministers’ visits
  • Apart from medicines, doctors are needed urgently
  • They need counseling, 90% of them are still in a state of shock, they haven’t come to terms with the reality yet
  • Children need attention, specially the orphans, they have no clue what’s happening around
  • Fishermen need hardware tools to repair/rebuild their boats/houses
  • They need hands (volunteers) to help them start building their houses. The Govt. has promised them only Rs. 4000/family to rebuild their lives

    Please Think

  • What would you do/need when you start your life from scratch
  • About their culture and lifestyle and then send clothes. Women don’t wear funky off-shoulder tops. It was distressing to see such clothes, seemed like people got rid of their clothes, rather than sharing them
  • Climate is moderate and bit humid, men wear Lungis/dhotis, women wear sarees, kids anything will do
  • Staple diet: fish and rice, but fish they can’t eat since govt. has put a ban on fishing
  • The fortunate who have their families intact are deeply concerned about their children’s education
  • Men & women who have serious injuries, need to get well soon to look after their kids and start thinking of livelihood

    Sincere Advice:
    If you want to do something for them as a private group, making sure your contribution reaches the villagers directly Do tie-up with an NGO already involved, BUT make sure they don’t interfere in your plan, tell them you would work under their banner and let them take the credit. At the end of the day we want to help people who need us most. Go with a plan, stick to it. if one NGO doesn’t agree with you, move to the next one, many are lazy, wanting somebody else to do the work while they take the credit. Get involved directly or send your representative to makes sure things happen. Please DO NOT leave the supplies with NGOs and Govt. Offices. I personally saw goods worth millions stored in storages so they are not reaching the needy. I was lucky to come across an NGO who really gave us freedom to do what we wanted to do. I would be forwarding details soon. Trust me its only 6 months work to help them to sustain themselves. This is immensely fulfilling work. They are one of us. If you plan to visit them, make sure you have at least one doctor in your group.

    Tsunami Relief Team led by Alok Johri:

  • Vikram Kushwah: Final year student, NIFT-Bangalore
  • Manu Tyagi: Final year student, NIFT-Bangalore
  • Sushant Gupta: Fashion Designer (ex-NIFTian)
  • Vaibhava Kalia: Infrastructure Consultant with PWC
  • Sebastian Curian: Ex-NGO professional
  • Nagendra Rao: Travel & Tours
  • Debashish Mandal: Designer & Photographer- Delhi (ex-NIFTian)
  • Ghopal Krishnan: Film Professional, Bombay (ex-NIFTian)
  • Anil Kumar: Advertising Professional, JWT-Bangalore
  • Dr. Daya Prasad
  • Guest Volunteer – Federico Rettori, Argentina

    8th Jan 04
    See Photo Gallery       About : Alok Johri

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  • Editor: Romola Butalia       (c) India Travelogue. All rights reserved.