EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS IN CUDDALORE DISTRICT

Sherine David SA

The Government of Tamil Nadu in association with the United Nations Development Programme is implementing a project that envisages to strengthen and institutionalize the Early Warning System (EWS) in the Tsunami affected coastal districts. This proposed project therefore looks to adopt a strategy of strengthening Early Warning Systems with special emphasis on the delivery of 'understandable' early warnings to the communities at risk.

Dissemination & Communication, and Response Capability are the two components of Early Warning Systems, UNDP is concentrating in this proposed pilot project at Cuddalore District.

As a part of Dissemination & Communication component in the EWS, UNDP-India has proposed to provide 55 loud speakers with sirens for the coastal villages and 15 mobile loud speakers for the 13 block office, EOC and Cuddalore Collectorate in Cuddalore District.

A demonstration was performed yesterday (29th August 2006) to the villagers of Thazhanguda Coastal hamlet in the presence of Mr. Gagandeep Singh Bedi, District Collector, Cuddalore on the usuage of Loud speakers and Sirens, followed by the demonstration on the proposed wireless linked public address system at Collector's camp office.

As per the version of Expert from Kenwood Wireless broadcast system "The system would enable the District Collector to call any or all the coastal wireless radios by a special code and start a special siren warning for a specified period. Upon siren, the DC can announce messages using his wireless radio in his office or his radio from his mobile vehicle from any part of the district to be heard by the entire village. Each village is being provided with a wireless system connected with a powerful amplifier and the speakers mounted on rooftop. This enables the message by the collector being broadcasted in villages enabling them to receive the early warning immediately. Also, provision is given where by village chief can also activate a siren available in the amplifier to get the attraction of the villagers for announcing any emergency/urgent messages"

The District Administration received 54 loud speakers and sirens from UNDP yesterday (29th August 2006) morning and these are likely to be installed before 15th September 2006 in the proposed hamlets (as per the direct instruction by District Collector).

Apart from this, two NGO's - CREED and IGSSS were identified as implementing partners for the Response Capability component of the EWS in coastal and flood prone areas of Cuddalore District. This programme is aiming to provide specialized EWS training to the identified 640 hamlets on multi-hazard disaster.

Incentive to Study

Sherine David SA

During my recent field visit to one of the worst affected Tsunami affected community in Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, I came across one interesting case. It's about a lady of 31 years age, having two kids approached me for assisting her to include her children in the PMNRF scheme for monthly assistance of Rs. 300/-. This scheme is offered to the kids education who are directly affected by Tsunami and the assistance will be given to the kids till they reach 10th Std. The report is that her husband, who is the age group of 33-37 years is suffering from long term illness and the symptoms are continous health problem, loss of weight, shortness of breath, fatigue. He is under treatment and the doctor had said that his health condition is too worse and his survival days are some months only. This lady is also suffering from brain Tumour (as per her version) underwent laser treatment, lost all her hair and is counting her days. Both her children, younger one 5 years old studying in 1st Std and elder one 8 years old studying 4th Std are being educated in Matriculation School, where they need to pay school monthly fees. The children seem to be too bright. But they are not eligible for this assistance as they are not from the Tsunami affected community. The lady is worried about her children future. The lady was finally referred to a Child Welfare NGO working in that District for further follow up actions.

The Scheme offered for the Tsunami affected children education by the Central Government is a welcome one. The parents who are in dilemma of sending their children to fishing are now enrolling their children in schools for the incentive provided by the government for their kids education.

I feel that this could be adopted as one of the alternate way to reach the target of "Education for all" by Sarva Siksha Abhiyan Programme. They could concentrate on vulnerable groups such as scheduled tribe, scheduled caste with this concept of incentive to children for education. This is one way in which we could achieve the vision 2020 as said by our Hon'ble president Mr. Abdul Kalam. If we could draw the proper procedure to apply this education incentive scheme, I think we could achieve the target of providing basic education for our next generation. And as we all know, the education will be the key factor to open the eyes of larger degeneration of our society.