India: Flood response in Tamil Nadu
During the last December floods in Tamil Nadu EFICOR provided relief in Cuddalore and Kumbakonam districts to about 9000 families in 46 villages. Some parts of Chidambaram town including EFICOR's office faced water logging and it was reported that water snakes entering houses created panic among the people. Boats distributed to the Tsunami affected fishermen were pressed into service to evacuate and transport the flood affected in some villages.
Most of the affected people were agricultural labourers belonging to the Schedule caste. These scheduled caste labourers work on daily wages in the land which are taken on lease from land owners by people of higher caste. The agricultural labourers in Cuddalore were earlier affected by the Tsunami when sea water had filled the agricultural land in December 2004. After land treatment and desalinataion these labourers who had hardly started farming since last August, were expecting to harvest their crops early January for Pongal. The flood in December destroyed their crops once more, severely affecting their livelihood.
EFICOR provided relief materials to 8000 familes in 38 villages in and around Chidambaram during the second phase of distribution with rice, dal, oil, bedsheet, mat etc. About 1200 families from 8 villages were also provided relief in Kumbakonam district. The distribution just before Pongal helping the flood affected to celebrate one of their important festival was much appreciated.
© 2006 ReliefWeb
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