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AID-India Progress Report on Tsunami Relief, Rehabilitation and Community Rebuilding Programs |
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Page 11 of 37 Together these two materials played a critical role in curbing the fear of the Tsunami – it made people understand that Tsunamis are really rare events and cannot come back again and again. This also played a role in helping people later struggle against moves to evict them from the coast. World space had set up a satellite based broadcast system in many villages – they requested us to organize programs from the Govt Relief Commissioner’s office every day. The programs covered issues of preventive health, science of Tsunami, nutrition, and stories for children. We did this for about 2 weeks and the programs were very well received. Cultural Counseling Activities: We organized a large number of counseling street theatre programs (Kala jathas). One troupe (Aazhi) was led by Dr. Velu Saravanan who is an expert on child psychology. Through his troupe we successfully organized 100 shows across the coast – from Chennai to Nagai. We also did 2 drama shows with Nalamdana which was also quite successful.   Following up on these professional street theatre teams, we got our local volunteers from the various Tsunami villages (Devaneri, Chinnakuppum, etc) to form several kala jatha troupes. We provide them with training and they performed street theatre programs in several villages. Seeing their own youth perform in the jathas also added to the fun element in these programs. Apart from these, volunteers who had come from outside to help out also organized street theatre programs – in particular students from Auxillium College did a number of shows. Damage Assessment and Social Mapping As the first immediate relief phase was coming to an end, it was important to get an overall assessment of damages and surveys to find out what was to be done during the medium term relief and rehabilitation phase. In Cuddalore and Nagai, participative assessment of damages in each village was begun by PSF and DYFI volunteers with help from AID volunteers. This was consolidated and village meetings to explain the amount of damage and what needs to be done were organized in all the villages. In Koovathur and Kelambakkam, AID volunteers did household level surveys, did damage assessments and distributed family relief cards in about 20 villages. An overall needs assessment study was also undertaken as part of which a survey of schools and primary health centers and hospitals was also undertaken.
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