Tamil Nadu - Nagapattinam   

Community-based project to be launched in Nagapattinam

Special Correspondent

Three core areas identified for the initiative

NAGAPATTINAM: A Chennai-based non-governmental organisation, Development Promotion Group (DPG), carrying out tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in the Nagapattinam and Tuticorin districts plans to launch a community-based livelihood project in Nagapattinam district next month.

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Bangkok, has already entered into an agreement with the DPG for this pro-poor public-private partnership project, said R. Bhakther Solomon, Chief Executive Officer of DPG, here on Thursday.

He said that the UNESCAP and the DPG would achieve the goal of livelihood support for the affected communities through the field project in the district and pointed out that the UNESCAP signed a trust fund with the Republic of Korea in July 2005 for projects on multi-hazard preparedness and comprehensive risk reduction.

Core areas

Three areas — livelihood support for affected communities in India through public-private partnership; introducing practice in community-based early warning systems in Sri Lanka; and strengthening support for orphans and separated children in Indonesia — were identified for UNESCAP intervention.

He pointed out that the UNESCAP observed that the collaboration of the DPG to facilitate partnership was crucial for the success of the project. The DPG will identify a project to benefit about 30 to 40 families for which feasibility study was under progress.

Permanent shelters

The DPG had built and handed over 400 permanent houses (195 in Vanavanmahadevi and 133 in Vizhundamavadi villages in Nagapattinam district and 72 in Keezha Tiruchendur in Tuticorin district).

The DPG handed over 195 houses last week to Nagapattinam Collector Tenkasi S.Jawahar at Vanavanmahadevi built at a cost of Rs.4.72 crore in the presence of Gerhard Mohr and Hanne Lore Mohr of EED, Germany. Another 202 houses built at Mapillaioorani in Tuticorin district will soon be given to the tsunami victims.

Each house was built at a cost of Rs.2.30 lakh.

The DPG was carrying out tsunami rehabilitation works at a cost of Rs.18.50 crore with financial assistance from Church Development Service (EED) and Diakonie Emergency Aid, Germany, American India Foundation, Asian Confederation of Credit Unions, Bangkok and Christian Aid-UK and Times Foundation.

130 self-help groups

Besides, the DPG had already formed 130 self-help groups and provided Rs.68.77 lakh as assistance and distributed 122 fibreglass boats with engines and about 17,300 kg of net to fishermen affected by the tsunami, Mr. Solomon said.

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