Food is fundamental.

I am writing this from the Supreme Court Public Hearing on Food Security for Tsunami Victims held at Chennai. This programme had a number of government officials and the supreme court advisors from various states and was hosted by AID-India, TNSF-Chennai, PUCL, Katumaram, Construction Workers Union and a number of fishermen's societies and dalit organizations together.

The hearing today happened simultaneously at Chennai, Nagai, Pondicherry and Tirunelvelli. Tomorrow the hearing is for Cuddalore, Kanchipuram, Kanyakumari and Karaikal.

We had more than 300 people from various affected slums and villages in Tiruvallur and Chennai who attended and deposed before the commission. The Government officials also presented their version of activities and releif work. At Nagai more than 1000 people seem to have attended the programme.

The purpose of the programme is to bring out the gaps in provision of basic releif and to ensure that the government addresses these gaps. The purpose is also to ensure that there is a long term relief and food plan for the poorest people who have been affected by the Tsunami - throgh releif cards, food and cash for work programmes - for at least 2 years.

We prepared a pamphlet and distributed it to people explaining the food needs and the demands and got people to come to the hearing. They turned out in large numbers and related their stories of neglect and severals cases of discrimination.

There are 3 categories of affected people:

1. Individuals left out in communities that have got releif - Widows, elders, women headed households, etc - the vulnerable sections who are not listed in the fishing cooperatives, and have no voice.

2. Entire communities - Dalit communities and other groups that have lost land, harvest, livelihood and houses but are left out.

3. Sections that are not directly affected but indirectly because the fishing and other allied industries are affected - fish loaders, fish sellers, fish workers, agricultural workers, construction workers, etc.

The main demands that we placed before the commission were:

1. Transperancy in identification of beneficiaries and affected people - list to be put up in each village and verified by villagers. (We got several cases where people said that many bogus names were listed as beneficiaries).

2. Provision of 2 year relief cards to all the affected families.

3. Ensuring food and cash for work programme in all the areas - this is government's responsibility to provide the work to people - people can choose to take it or leave it. And other alternative food transfer programmes for people who are incapable of working.

We also had a number of other subsidary demands - but the above three are the main demands we have been struggling for.

After the 2 days of public hearing, the supreme court officials will meet at Chennai on the 21st again for a state level hearing where people like Harsh Mandar, N.C. Saxena, etc will also participate and provide an overall direction to the state on what should be the steps taken. We are hoping that the hearing will be used to give a directive from the Supreme court to the State to implement the above programmes.

If that happens we can ensure that all the people affected in TN have access to basic food till their livelihood is restored.

Just wanted to keep you all informed.

Thanks,
Balaji Sampath

PS: We are also involved in an anti-eviction campaign across the state - another attempt to push the poor outside the coastline using the Tsunami as an excuse. If that happens then these poor people will be left without employment for a very long time. This struggle is also picking up a lot of speed. As we have always seen Releif and Constructive Action invariably leads one into more complex agitative action as well!