All India Disaster Mitigation Institute, India

"We had heard about tidal waves in the sea. The coastal area has turned into a graveyard. The landscape has changed in many areas forever." - Mr. Nathaniya in Andamans ||||| "I saw it, with my eyes. The land separated in two parts. People just died. It is still horrible to remember. I had never seen it before. Now I see it everyday, in fact at Car Nicobar no one has seen this behaviour of sea before. We are living with sea since ages here." - Johnson in Andamans. ||||| "Nobody knew what was coming. We just saw a wall of water coming towards us. We had no option. We ran towards forest. Those who managed survived, those who failed, went away with the seawater. Fortunately I survived with my family. The Indian Air Force rescued me after two days. I spent these two days in forest with my elder son. Now I received the news about my younger son who is only nine months and safe with my mother in law." -Estervelina in Andamans ||||| "We, here inside Chennai, are not much affected but our friends in the other rural parts are severely affected. We have collected more than 4000 pairs of clothes and have distributed 400 in three relief camps. Our neighbours received them with thanks. But NGOs came and there was flood of clothes. Neighbours do not want our clothes. We would be thankful if the remaining clothes can be distributed to the affected communities in the far off Nagapattinum or Cuddlore. May be they also have too many clothes." - Sundervardhani and Laxmi in Chennai |||||

Pushing Wheels of Work:
Women's Livelihood Recovery after tsunami in
Coastal India by AIDMI

The panchayat president launching the programme on an auspicious occasion.	Designs and layouts are a must. The women have a clear idea about what they want to work on. A plan is being made.	The women meet under the temporary workshed set up by the panchayat to decide who will produce what and for how long.
The members of women's committee making the first stock of coir rope.	Pushing wheels is hard and exhausting, but not impossible.	Three women, each hour, wind six kilos of coconut husk.
The final product is locally bought to build and repair temporary shelters.	And who will keep the wage-list? Regular public payments are made.	Panchayat leaders giving guidance on other coastal resources.