ECHO Boats bring smile on the faces of People of Devanampattinam

Devanampattinam, one of the hardest hit villages of Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu saw the first glimpse of happiness when the ECHO funded boats (96 repaired and some new boats) returned with 8 tons of fish on 05May, 2005 for the first the time after the tsunami of 26th December 2004. The community danced with joy and celebrated the huge catch.

ECHO supported Caritas-Germany to develop a boat-building workshop where 40 apprentice boat builders gain life-skills, and where 130 fishing boats were constructed and 96 repaired. The boats are shared between 5 beneficiaries. The boat workshop is still in operation for Caritas to support other communities from their own funding. The total production so far is 202 boats.

The livelihood support is complemented by psychosocial support to the affected communities. Caritas implements several components under psychosocial care i.e. trauma counselling, garments making for the women, computer training for the youths, strengthening of SHGs (Self Help Groups) and playschool activities for the children. ECHO supports the trauma counselling and the human resource for the project.

In Campbell Bay of Great Nicobar Islands, ANI (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) ECHO supported Caritas to construct 700 temporary Interim Shelters, which is completed, and the families live in the shelters toady. Caritas are in the process of delivering 25 Fishing Wooden Boats in ANI complemented with psychosocial activities in Great Nicobar and Little Andaman Islands.

ECHO is also financing CARITAS for additional fishing Nets to the beneficiaries in Tamil Nadu. Thus the objective to support the tsunami affected 14550 families to resume their normal livelihood in their place of origin has been timely addressed.

Source : ECHO website