Padaleeswarar Temple festival photos

Though I was late to get to our Padaleeswarar temple I got the opportunity at the last moment while the temple door was about to be closed. I just snapped the mast with the flag hoisted on the morning of the first day on 22/5/07



The puppet show at the temple festival. A oldest traditional cultural show which was done with perfection by the performers.
The veedhi ula by the deities on the evening of the first day.

Gauge conversion work

Union Minister inspects work at Tirupathiripuliyur railway station

Festival at Padaleeswarar Temple

The annual festival in the tamil month of Vaikasi is starting in our Padaleeswarar temple on 22 May 2007.
The important dates are
Flag hoist (The start of the festival event) is on 22/05 at 8.00a.m.
Theruvadaichan on 26/05 at 10.00p.m.
Velli Ratham on 27/5
Thear (Car) on 30/5 between 9.15a.m. & 9.45a.m.

Cuddalore in the news

Tamil Nadu in India is home to adoption rackets and child-labour gangs

Chemplast Sanmar swings to a loss for Mar`07 qtr

IT park to be set up at Pillachavady

Three textile clusters in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu in India is home to adoption rackets and child-labour gangs

Plea to make SIPCOT keep safety norms

Govt to construct two ship building
"The Tamil Nadu Government will construct ship building yards at Kattupalli and Cuddalore at a cost of Rs 1000 crore each, State Highways Minister Vellakoil M P Saminathan told the State Assembly today......

Similarly, the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board has accorded in principle approval to Ms Goodearth Ship Building Private Limited for establishing a captive ship building yard between Pudukuppam and Reddiyarpatti in Cuddalore district for construction of ships ranging from 45000 to 75000 DWT, Mr Saminathan."

TN wants Centre to develop Colachel port
"Cuddalore Power Company has proposed to set up a 1,320-MW thermal power plant at a cost of Rs 6,000 crore at Thiyagavalli village in Cuddalore district. For importing the required 3.5 million tonnes of coal, a jetty at a cost of Rs 325 crore also would be set up.

Tamil Nadu Maritime Board has given in-principle approval to Goodearth Shipbuilding Ltd to establish a captive shipbuilding yard at a cost of Rs 1000 crore in Cuddalore. "

Centre clears textile parks

Pollution update

This new item was published on April 9, excuse me for posting it this late.

1000 Bhopals Photo Exhibition Launched in Chennai by Tamizhacchi;

Chennai Residents Take 'No More Bhopals' Oath

Chennai April 9, 2007 – Renowned Tamil contemporary poet and theatre artist Tamizhacchi launched the '1000 Bhopals' photo exhibition at the Alliance Francaise today. The exhibition that displayed images from various toxic hotspots across India especially Tamil Nadu is part of a two week long environment festival organized by the Alliance Francaise of Madras.

The photo exhibition primarily focuses on industrial pollution and its impact on human and environmental health and aims at raising awareness of the general public about the consumption of toxic products/chemicals and its impact on the future generations and on people who share their backyards with facilities that make such chemicals. Though the exhibit displays images of Endosulphan poisoning in Kasargode, Kerala and chemical pollution from the Golden Corridor in Gujarat, the main focus is on Tamilnadu where places like Cuddalore, Mettur, Manali, Kodaikannal, Kodungaiyur and Chengelpattu are severely impacted by pollution. "Nature and human life in all these places has been severely impacted due to the industrial activity. The exhibition also aims to generate public opinion on further development of this nature," said Community Environmental Monitoring.

Visitors also lit candles in memory of the victims of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Disaster and the victims of industrial pollution across India. Representatives from pollution impacted communities were also present at the inauguration to interact with the visitors. The exhibition will be on till the 21st of April at Alliance Francaise de Madras – New No.24, College Road, Chennai 600 006.

Visit www.sipcotcuddalore.com and www.bhopal.net for updates and more information

Fish in Uppanar born with genetic deformity: study - The Hindu

Fish in Uppanar born with genetic deformity: study
Staff Reporter
Waterway polluted by effluents from chemical units


CHENNAI: Fish in the Uppanar near the SIPCOT industrial estate at Cuddalore are born with genetic deformity, according to a study conducted by student members of the People's Union for Civil Liberty.

G. Narasimhan, a PUCL student volunteer, who visited the SIPCOT estate in March, said the increased levels of pollution and release of untreated effluent into the waterway had resulted in fish being born with one eye. Several chemical units functioning at the estate were not following the pollution norms prescribed by the Government, he said.

He said the State Pollution Control Board should monitor the levels of emissions and initiate action against polluting units to ensure that the emission levels were within the permissible limits.

The Board and other agencies should ensure that the industries abandoned production processes that were polluting and make them invest in non-polluting production technology, said Siddarth Sareen, another student volunteer.

An extensive groundwater and soil testing in the Cuddalore area had to be done to assess the extent of toxicity and the impact of pollutants as a result of releasing untreated industrial effluents into waterbodies and land, Mr. Sareen said.

A comprehensive health survey of workers and communities in and around the SIPCOT estate had to be conducted.

The work of assessing the health condition of the people should be entrusted to an independent agency and compensation provided to those seriously affected, Mr. Sareen said.

The study also urged the Government not to permit any more polluting units in the estate.
Nearly 25 students from various city colleges visited the place and spent two days in the area and submitted their findings, said V. Suresh, president, PUCL, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

For more updates on SIPCOT pollution visit www.sipcotcuddalore.com

Pollution update from SACEM

Cuddalore: Government's plan to sacrifice Cuddalore in the interest of larger development of the State is quite clear with the launch of plans to set up a 1320 MW coal fired thermal power plant. The public hearing for the plant with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC), a large number of community representatives also attended the hearing and opposed the project.

Public hearing held on Cuddalore power project
http://www.sipcotcuddalore.com/News_TheHindu_200407.html
There was a question raised in the Legislative Assembly about the existing state of environment in SIPCOT Cuddalore. Finally one of the MLA from nearby Cuddalore was coaxed to ask the questions.

Steps to protect SIPCOT complex environment; PMK's plea for high-level committee to study pollution conceded
http://www.sipcotcuddalore.com/News_TheHindu_120407.html
There is a local group in Cuddalore that has also moved the Madras High Court to seek for action against the erring units in SIPCOT Cuddalore.

Plea to make SIPCOT keep safety norms
http://www.sipcotcuddalore.com/News_ChennaiOnline_042407.html
And finally Highways Department repair works that broke an effluent pipeline in the SIPCOT village created furore in the area.

Highways department damages CUSECS pipeline; SIPCOT village pond contaminated with effluents
http://www.sipcotcuddalore.com/updates_290407.html =================================================

Mettur: In Mettur, residents tired of waiting for government to take action against the pollution of Chemplast courted arrest while protesting against Chemplast.
More than 400 residents protesting Chemplast Sanmar pollution court arrest.
http://www.sipcotcuddalore.com/updates_180407.html ==================================================

Chennai: Chennai residents opposed the India Japan treaty to bring in hazardous and other waste in India.
India-Japan Parley May Legalise Waste Dumping in India http://www.sipcotcuddalore.com/updates_020507.html

please keep visiting the website http://www.sipcotcuddalore.com/ for more updates

--
SACEM

1000 Bhopal Photo Exhibit at Alliance Francaise of Madras

The Bhopal Gas Disaster of 1984 was not an accident. It was the result of systematic neglect by the Government and industry. Twenty-three years after this disaster, no lessons have been learnt. The environment, workers and communities living next to the industries face the same threats that caused the Bhopal Gas Disaster. The neglect that plagued Union Carbide's factory in Bhopal, plagues several toxic hotspots in Mettur, Cuddalore, Kodungaiyur, Ennore, Manali, Tuticorin, Alathur, Kodaikanal and Tiruppur -- all in Tamil Nadu. . .all slow-motion Bhopals. Community Environmental Monitoring invites you to the inauguration of the "1000 Bhopal" photo exhibition that will give you a glimpse of the lurking dangers in thousands of communities around the country and in Tamil Nadu who live in Bhopal everyday.

Details of inauguration:
Date: 9 April 2007
Time: 6:00 pm
Venue: Alliance Francaise of Madras,
No. 40, College Road, Numbgambakkam, Chennai
==========================
For more details contact:
Shweta Narayan – 94440 24315
Dharmesh Shah – 94444 16546
Email: india.cem@gmail.com
Website: http://www.sipcotcuddalore.com/
The exhibition will be on from 9 April to 21 April 2007 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm at Alliance Francaise of Madras.
=======================================================
The Alliance Francaise of Madras is organising a three day event on environment from 9th April to 11th April. A cycle of exhibition, films and discussions on the environment and its problems.

The schedule of the event is as follows:

Exhibition, 9th to 21st April:
1000 Bhopal - The photo exhibition primarily focuses on chemical pollution and its impact on human and environmental health and aims at raising awareness of the general public about the consumption of chemicals and its impact on the future generations and on people who share their backyards with facilities that make such chemicals. Though the exhibit displays images of Endosulphan poisoning in Kasargod, Kerala and chemical pollution from the Golden Corridor in Gujarat, the main focus is on Tamilnadu where places like Cuddalore, Mettur, Manali and Chengelpattu are severely impacted by industrial pollution.

Documentary Films:

9/4/07: Hunting for Warren Anderson, By Dateline : 22 years after the world's worst industrial disaster, survivors o the Bhopal gas tragedy are still trying to bring the person and the corporation responsible for this disaster to justice.

Neer Nilam Katru (Water land and air), by: S. Divyanathan: This 15 minutes film takes you to the depths of the petroleum refinery hub of Manali located in the north of Chennai.

10/4/07: Darwin's Nightmare, H. Sauper : Fishermen, politicians, Russian pilots, prostitutes and manufacturers all caught up in an incredible drama. The shores of the world's largest tropical lake are now the scene of globalization's worst nightmare.

11/4/07: The right to survive, Rita Banerji & Shilpi Sharma : each year, the eastern coast of India witnesses a truly spectacular occurrence of nature, the arrival en masse of hundreds of thousands of Olive Ridley turtles in the coastal region of the State of Orissa. This film offerssome insights into the dilemmas facing the various stakeholders and attempts to provide a solution for tomorrow.

--
www.sipcotcuddalore.com

Six Sinhalese fishermen detained in Cuddalore - The Hindu

Six Sinhalese fishermen who were found drifting in a failed mechanised boat in the Bay of Bengal, about four km off the Cuddalore coast, were rescued by the Thevanampattinam fishermen on Sunday night full story>>

Seismological centre to be setup at Cuddalore

Here is an extract from news article Government to set up IT parks in five cities - The Hindu:

...Revenue Minister I. Periasamy said the Government had been taking efforts to set up seismological centres at Kanyakumari, Rameswaram, Cuddalore and Chennai. An expert committee had been asked to give its recommendations on forecasting natural disasters as the State fell under seismic zone 2 and 3.

A successful entrepreneur from Cuddalore

An article in Rediff.com

http://www.rediff. com/money/ 2007/mar/ 22bspec.htm

C K Ranganathan, chairman and managing director of CavinKare, has shown the world it is possible to beat the multinationals even in the most difficult market of fast moving consumer goods.

Ranganathan' s journey, which started from a small town of Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu, has been an amazing one. A business which he started with only with Rs 15,000 is now worth Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion).

He learnt the first entrepreneurial lessons from his father, Chinni Krishnan, who started a small-scale pharmaceutical packaging unit, before moving on to manufacture pharmaceutical products and cosmetics.

In an interview with rediff.com, the CavinKare chief speaks about his inspiring journey.

His father, his inspiration

My father, Chinni Krishnan, an agriculturist, was also into pharmaceutical business. As I was poor in academics, he wanted me to either do agriculture or start a business.

My siblings were good in studies -- two of them became doctors and another a lawyer. I was the odd one out. While my siblings studied in English medium schools, I was put in a Tamil medium school. I used to suffer from an inferiority complex because of my poor academic record.

Studies did not interest me, but rearing pets did. When I was in the fifth standard, I had a lot of pets -- more than 500 pigeons, a lot of fish and a large variety of birds. I used to earn my pocket money out of pet business at that time. Perhaps, the entrepreneurial spirit in me showed its first streak.

The origin of the concept of sachets

My father died as I entered college. He had come out with the sachet concept a couple of years prior to his demise. He felt liquid can be packed in sachets as well. When talcum powder was sold only in tin containers, he was the one who sold it in 100 gm, 50 gm and 20 gm packs.

When Epsom salt came in 100 gm packets, my father brought out salt sachets of as low as 5 gm.

'Whatever I make, I want the coolies and the rickshawpullers to use. I want to make my products affordable to them,' he used to say.

Selling things in sachets was his motto as he said, 'this is going to be the product of the future.' But my father could not market the concept well. He moved from one innovation to another but never thought of marketing strategies. He was a great innovator, but a poor marketer.

Joining the family business

After my father's death, my brothers took charge of the family business. In 1982, when I joined them after my studies, they had launched Velvette Shampoo. Within eight to nine months, I left the business because my ideas clashed with theirs.

As I was in the manufacturing unit, I did not know anything about marketing or finance. But, my inferiority complex notwithstanding, I was somehow confident of doing business better.

Starting his own business with Rs 15,000

I had left my brothers saying that I did not want any stake in the property or business. That was a defining moment for me. I had saved Rs 15,000 from my salary and that was all I had. Yet I was confident of achieving success. I did not feel anything about riding a bicycle after having got used to cars.

For a week, I could not make up my mind as to what business to do. I knew only two things; making shampoo and rearing pets. I didn't want to venture into the shampoo business as it would initate a fight with my brothers. However, I decided to do the same later as I could only make shampoo.

I rented a house-cum-office for Rs 250 a month against an advance of Rs 1,000. I took another place for the factory for a rent of Rs 300 a month and against an advance of Rs 1,200. I bought a shampoo-packing machine for Rs 3,000.

How Chik Shampoo was born

I named it Chik Shampoo after my father. The product did not succeed immediately; we learnt many things during the process. In the first month, we could sell 20,000 sachets and from the second year, we started making profits.

I moved to Chennai in 1989 but our manufacturing unit continued to be in Cuddalore. It took me three years to get the first loan because banks asked for collateral. I did not have any. But one particular bank gave me a loan of Rs 25,000 which we rotated and later upgraded to Rs 400,000, Rs 15 lakh (Rs 1.5 million), etc.

You know what the bank manager wrote in our loan application? 'This person does not have any collateral to offer but there is something interesting about this SSI unit. Unlike others, this company pays income tax!'

I must say my business never looked back because I was very particular about paying income tax.

Strategies that made Chik Shampoo No. 1 in South India

When Chik entered the market, Velvette Shampoo was being marketed aggressively by Godrej. But a scheme of ours became extremely successful -- we exchanged five sachets of any shampoo for a Chik Shampoo sachet, free.

Later, we altered the scheme -- we started giving one free Chik Shampoo sachet in lieu of five Chik Shampoo sachets only. Soon, consumers started asking for Chik sachets only. The sales went up from Rs 35,000 to Rs 12 lakh (Rs 1.2 million) a month.

When we introduced jasmine and rose fragrances, our sales went up to Rs 30 lakh (Rs 3 million) per month and with actor Amala as our model, our sales rose to Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) a month! Each idea of ours was rewarded by our customers. There has been no looking back since then.

Our market share increased and in 1992, we became the numero uno in South India. It took nine years for me to overtake my brothers' business.

How Chik Shampoo conquered the rural market

Multinational companies sold products in big bottles and not in sachets and they sold only from fancy stores. They did not look at the small kirana stores, nor did they look at the rural market.

We went to the rural areas of South India where people hardly used shampoo. We showed them how to use it. We did live demonstration on a young boy. We asked those assembled to feel and smell his hair.

Next we planned Chik Shampoo-sponsored shows of Rajniknath's films. We showed our advertisements in between, followed by live demonstrations. We also distributed free sachets among the audience after these shows. This worked wonders in rural Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. After every show, our shampoo sales went up three to four times.

Today, the Indian rural market is growing at a pace double than that of the urban market.

Launching Meera Herbal powder

We continued with Chik Shampoo for seven years before venturing into anything else.

Meera Herbal powder was actually not our idea. Shaw Wallace already had a herbal product but it was marketed very poorly. We felt there was a demand for herbal products and we made a good product. I felt we should be the leader if ours was a good product. And guess what? In the third month itself, we topped the market. In six months, we had 95 per cent market share, while Shaw Wallace had only 4-5 per cent.

How Beauty Cosmetics became CavinKare

As we planned to expand to new products, we thought the name Beauty Cosmetics would be restrictive. In 1998, we ran a contest among our employees for a name and one of them suggested CavinKare; with C and K spelt in capitals. CK, my father's initials. Cavin in Tamil means beauty and grace.

Perfumes for the poor

We wanted to cater to those who cannot afford (high priced) perfumes. Good perfumes came at a huge price -- they were beyond the means of ordinary people. We decided to come out with a Rs 10 pack Spinz. We were successful in that too.

Shampoo market share

In the last two to three years, our market share has come down though we are growing. It is mainly because of the anti-dandruff shampoos in the market. We do not have an anti-dandruff shampoo yet. From 0 per cent, the anti-dandruff shampoos have taken over 25 per cent of the market.

Only 75 per cent of the market, therefore, constitutes ordinary shampoos. We hold 20 per cent of the market share.

But we are the largest brand in rural Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, etc. and we are the number one in many other states as well.

On the decision to launch a fairness cream

We decided to launch Fairever in 1997 as we saw a huge demand fairness cream. We are the second largest player in the market in this.

Research states that when a product is good, consumers do not shift to a new brand. Our team told me not to venture into the fairness cream market as the consumers were quite satisfied with the existing products. But we went to launch our product containing saffron -- which is traditionally used to get a fair complexion. In six months, our sales galloped.

This was followed by Indica hair dye.

Two and a half years ago, we launched Ruchi pickles in sachets and we became number one there too. We sell close to 5,000 tonne of pickles per annum. We hope to double this in two to three years. Food is a huge market: we have understood that.

Our target is to be a Rs 1,500 crore (Rs 15 billion) company in another three years.

Reasons behind his success

Teamwork is the main reason for our success. We have good professionals who work really hard. The second reason of our success is innovation. We have executed innovative ideas as well.

CavinKare Ability Award

This month, we presented the 5th CavinKare Ability Foundation awards for physically disabled achievers.

I stayed as a tenant at Jayashree Ravindran's place (the woman who started the Ability Foundation). Once, she said she wanted to start a magazine for the disabled. Though she did not ask for sponsorship, I gave her a cheque of Rs 25,000. I also became one of the Foundation's founder members.

Once we came to know about the disabled who have climbed the ladder of success, we -- Ability Foundation and CavinKare -- decided to institute an award for them.

I feel each of us has to give something back to the society. I have great admiration for those who fight against all odds and attain success. When I started my career, I only faced shortage of funds but these people tide over graver difficulties. We must applaud their fighting spirit.

C K Ranganathan, chairman and managing director of CavinKare.

Courtesy : Rediff.com

Report on SIPCOT pollution unduly delayed: consumer body - The Hindu

Report on SIPCOT pollution unduly delayed: consumer body

The Hindu, 31 March 2007

Special Correspondent

Ambient air 'contains eight chemicals exceeding safety limits'


PUBLIC WORRY: Unchecked pollution in the SIPCOT Industrial Estate area in Cuddalore is causing concern to the residents.

CUDDALORE: The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), which has been assigned the task of studying the pollution problem in the SIPCOT Industrial Estate area here, has inordinately delayed submitting the final report.
The State Government had sanctioned Rs. 20.15 lakh for the study that commenced in May 2005, particularly on volatile organic compounds, with the specific mandate that it must be completed by July 2006.

The institute has so far submitted only the interim report, according to M. Nizamudeen, general secretary of the Cuddalore District Consumer Organisation.
Mr. Nizamudeen told The Hindu that it showed the unwillingness of the authorities to address the crucial issue of pollution causing health hazards to the people living in the vicinity.
The SIPCOT Area Community Environmental Monitoring (SACEM), formed by residents to carry on the fight against pollution, is as concerned now as it was in 2004 when it exposed the hazards of untreated effluents.

But the authorities had not done anything tangible to control pollution. The samples collected last month at two points near the SIPCOT canteen and at the entrance of Eachangadu, revealed that the ambient air contained 12 chemicals of which eight exceeded the limits prescribed by the Environmental Protection Agency of the U.S.

Three chemicals, namely chloroform, methylene chloride and trichlorethene, known to cause cancer, were much above the safety levels. Other chemicals had the potential to affect the nervous system and kidneys, and, cause heart and eye ailments.
Mr. Nizamudeen noted that the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee on hazardous wastes had directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to bring down the pollution-level before December 2005. But it was not complied with.

TNPCB sources said NEERI had submitted the draft report and the final report would be ready soon.

Gummidipoondi Residents Rally to Stop State Supported Illegal Toxic Waste Landfill

Gummidipoondi, 30 March 2007 – More than 400 residents, primarily women, from Gummidipoondi marched from the SIPCOT Gummidipoondi office to the SIPCOT junction to protest the ongoing illegal work at the proposed landfill and incinerator of Tamil Nadu Waste Management Ltd (TNWML)'s. Despite repeated reminders to the company and BDO, the company has recommenced construction without seeking approval of the Panchayat or the Panchayat Union Council as required under the Tamilnadu Panchayat Building Rules and the Tamilnadu Panchayats Act. More than 400 armed police personnel surrounded the gathering of villagers preventing them from rallying till the landfill site. The police refused to allow the village members to go anywhere in the vicinity of the landfill site. The company got high level security despite being alerted by the S.R. Kandigai Panchayat President about the illegality of the project.

On 26 January, 2007, the S.R. Kandigai Grama Panchayat issued a resolution against the toxic dumpsite on grounds that it will pollute the groundwater, and affect agriculture and human health. Gummidipoondi is one of the few revenue blocks in Tamilnadu that is rich in groundwater and with a high groundwater table. More than 230 out of 384 revenue blocks in Tamilnadu are either over-exploited or critical, according to the Central Groundwater Board. In June 2005, the Gummidipoondi Panchayat Union issued a resolution against the toxic facility.
Speaking on behalf of the village, Mr. T. Rosepillai, Panchayat president of S. R. Kandigai said "By providing police protection to the illegal operations of the company the state has made its intention clear of sacrificing the law-abiding residents of Gummidipoondi in the name of development. All we are asking is that the Panchayat rules must be followed and the company must apply for our permission, without which no construction can be allowed."

A police complaint filed by residents on 14 March, 2007, is pending with the SIPCOT Gummidipoondi police station. The police has said it will extend support only to the company, and will arrest any body that interferes with the work. Villagers said they are stopping work because Government agencies have failed to discharge their duty of protecting the law and instead had taken the side of the company. The villagers had taken a similar action in January 2006 when the company had engaged in illegal construction of the landfill. Subsequently, village representatives had moved the Madras High Court and obtained an interim stay on the work. After a year long legal battle, the Madras High Court vacated the stay in December 2006 stating that according to the Supreme Court's order no High Courts in India have jurisdiction over issues relating to hazardous wastes and that the petitioners should take the matter to the Supreme Court of India. The villagers are planning to approach the Supreme Court.

The project violates Supreme Court-sanctified siting guidelines, and will poison subsurface water, affect agriculture and threaten public health in the residential areas that lie about 500 metres from the project site. The porous sand-stone layer at the surface means any contamination from the landfill will quickly flow to the groundwater. Siting guidelines prohibit the setting up of such facilities near water bodies. However, the project site is less than 100 metres from the Kuluva Cheruvu pond. Villagers also point out that it is ironical that the Tamil Nadu Government is contemplating setting up a landfill in an area that supplied several hundred tankerloads of freshwater to Metrowater in 2004. "On the one hand, the Government is contemplating mega-schemes such as the Rs. 500 crore desalination plant. On the other, it is spending money to poison good water," residents said.

Representatives of Community Environmental Monitoring (CEM), People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and Chennai based youth group Youth for Social Change (YSC) also joined the residents in solidarity.

Organised by:Environmental Protection Group, Gummidipoondi. S.R. Kandigai Panchayat.T. Rosepillai, Panchayat President, S.R. Kandigai Post, Gummidipoondi Taluk. Tel: 9865415889

Source: SIPCOTCuddalore.com

Cuddalore to Chennai Environmental Tour - Audio files update

Links below contain audio documentation done by Radio Journalist Jessie Bhangoo during Cuddalore - Chennai Environmental Tour.

Gana Vijay Intro
Intro To Ride

Other files:
Audio 1
Audio 2
Audio 3
Audio 4
Audio 5
Audio 6

The audio files above are hosted by SangatProject. The site has a page dedicated for Cuddalore Bicycle Tour.

SOME FACTS ON EARTHQUAKE & TSUNAMI

NATURAL CALAMITIES

Natural calamities cause great damages to human beings, cattle, crops, buildings, vital installations, utility services and industries. The major problems faced are:

j) Many people succumbing to injuries

ii) People rendered homeless

iii) Panic and rumor which in turn create more problems of law and order.

iv) Casualties buried under the debris or marooned in the

flooded areas.

v) Road blockade due to debris of the damaged buildings causing hindrance to rescue operations & essential services.

vi) Problem of law and order and the maintenance of morale of the public.

vii) Family members separated from each other requiring

information about their near and dear ones.

ECONOMIC LOSSES

Cost of disasters over the last 25 years stands at

over US$ 87 billion a year. Recent earthquake in the Northern Sumathra which also initiated several Tsunamis have resulted in killing more than 200,000 lives in addition to heavy property and infrastructural damages. A massive earthquake in China during 1976 has resulted in about 655,000 deaths.

CAUSES OF SOME OF THE NATURAL DISASTERS:

EARTHQUAKE:

There are two general categories of earthquakes

VOLCANIC

Quake are generated by volcanic activity beneath the earth’s surface.

TECTONIC

Result of shifts in the plates of the earth’s subterranean crust.

There are different basic theories involved. One is that the continents, ocean basins, mountains and plains are in a state of balance by nature. When there are dynamic disturbances, these masses try to keep their balance by slowly adjusting and that results in quakes. Another theory behind this is that earth having separated from the sun is getting cooled off and hence is shrinking. These disturbances cause earthquakes.

VOLCANO:

When the volcanic eruption inside the earth’s surface finds a path to release the energy, the hot and burning earth mass that comes out is called a “Volcano”. Depending on the depth from which it comes out, the intensity and characteristics of the volcano differ.

TSUNAMI:

Japanese term, “tsu” means port or harbour and “nami” means waves. These waves cause severe damages in the coastal areas.

Some facts about tsunami:

• An earthquake may generate a tsunami if it is of sufficient

force and there is violent movement of the earth, causing sudden displacement of water. This also depends on the depth of the water at the earthquake site.

• A tsunami is not a single wave but a series of waves, also known as a wave train. The first wave in a tsunami is not necessarily the most damaging.

• Tsunami can take from a few minutes to as much as a day to travel to a shore. The closer the land is to the event

that generated the tsunami, the sooner it will be struck.

• Tsunamis are not tidal waves. Tsunamis can be very long (as much as 60 miles or 100 kilometers) and be as far as

one hour apart. They are able to cross entire oceans without great loss of energy.

• When the ocean is deep, tsunamis can travel unnoticed at speeds up to 800 kmph, crossing the entire ocean in a day or less.

• Boats and rigs are safe from tsunamis when they are out on the open ocean.

• A tsunami may be less than 30 centimeters in height in the open ocean, and may not even be noticed. But the powerful energy of the wave travels rapidly through the ocean. Once a tsunami reaches shallow waters it is slowed down, compressing the wave energy and causing the top of the wave to heighten dramatically.

EARTHQUAKES:

Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently and without warning. Identifying potential hazards ahead of time and advance planning can reduce the dangers of serious injury

or loss of life from an earthquake. Seismographic maps of the inner plates of the earth give some clue to assess the risk of possible earthquakes and their intensities at different parts of the earth. Based on the potential for earthquakes and their likely intensities, “Earthquake Zones” are notified by geological research institutions. This would give some idea on the urban planning including activities like construction of dams, factories, nuclear installations and other geologically sensitive constructions. This will at least control the calamities that might occur in future.

SAFETY TIPS

EARTHQUAKE.

(i) Check for hazards of falling objects and keep them secured.

(ii) Make sure all family members know how to respond immediately to an earthquake.

(iii) Keep essential supplies like medicines, flash light, portable radio, first aid kit, emergency food and water for ready use.

(iv) Develop an emergency communication plan.

(v) In case family members are separated from one another during an earthquake (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), develop a plan for reuniting after the disaster. Ask an outside relative or friend to serve as the “family contact”. Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address and phone number of the contact person.

(vi) Leave the area if you smell gas or fumes from other chemicals.

(vii) Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it. This will minimize the chances of getting crushed.

(viii) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed.

(ix) Never hideout under the stairs. The stairs have a different “moment of frequency” (they swing separately from the main part of the building) and may collapse even before the building.

(x) It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.

TSUNAMI:

Be aware of the following warning signs and quickly move

out to safer high ground areas nearby:

(i) An earthquake is a natural tsunami warning. Be aware that a massive earthquake can trigger a tsunami thousands of miles across the ocean many hours after the seismic event.

(ii) An approaching tsunami is sometimes preceded by noticeable fall or rise in the water level. If the ocean recedes unusually rapidly or far it’s a good sign that a big

wave is on its way. Go to high ground immediately.

(iii) Tsunamis can approach the shore as fast as 160 kmph it is often too late to get away after seeing - A tsunami cannot be outrun.

(iv) Tsunami waves can travel not only upto the coastal areas but also to far off inland places through the river mouths and streams leading to the sea.

(v) If you feel or hear a strong earthquake do not wait for an official tsunami warning. (It may be too late when you get a warning). Tell your family and friends to join you in leaving for high grounds to be on safe side.

COMMUNITY DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLAN:

Planned way of tackling natural disasters will enable timely action and prevent and control some of the potential losses. As part of the plan:

The community should:

* know alarm signals / sirens, if any

* follow evacuation plans as advised

* know what to do in an accident

* connect to appropriate news services in a crisis (radio or television)

Rescue services needed:

* equipment and training

* local hazard maps
* to be linked with private rescue services

* arrangements for traffic management

* communication channels with public during crisis

Government authorities shall take steps for:

* safe evacuation, refuge and shelter

* making public information available

* creating emergency services and activating them when

required

* having medical services ready for a crisis

* maintaining law and order

Occurrence of natural disasters are difficult to be predicted. Research work through advanced science and technology is trying to bridge the gap. Knowing the existing limitations and considering the massive destruction caused by these natural calamities, what at best can be done is to look into the ways and means of mitigating the hardship and sufferings resulting from them.

Focus on mitigating the effects of natural disaster should be:

* Monitoring

* Forecasting

* Awareness raising

* Disaster Preparedness Plan

* Relief and rehabilitation

* Crisis management

* Long term plans

* Sharing of information and pooling of resources.

Cultural Program and Solidarity Meeting Marks the End of the Cycle Tour on Cuddalore Pollution

Chennai, 11 February 2007: The cycle tour to highlight the environmental crisis in SIPCOT Cuddalore culminated today in Chennai and ended with a cultural program and solidarity meeting of city based groups who resolved to support the struggle against new polluting facilities in Cuddalore. The two day tour that resumed on Friday from Tindivanam covered a distance of about 150 km to reach Chennai. A reception was held for the cyclists at the temple square of Urur Kuppam on Elliots beach where they were welcomed by Tamil actress Kalai Rani and supporters of the Cuddalore campaign. "Industrial pollution has converted Cuddalore into a disaster zone. We are pained at the horrible environmental conditions under which people in SIPCOT Cuddalore live, and we undertook this cycle tour to appeal to the Government to improve conditions in Cuddalore," said Rupesh Kumar, a representative of Youth for Social Change, one of the coorganisers of the event.

The tour held public meetings at Tindivanam, Chegalpettau, Kovalam and was joined by students of Vidya Sagar in Besant Nagar before reaching Urur Kuppam temple square where the cultural program was held. The cultural troupe of Gana Viji presented a street play depicting the sufferings of the residents of Cuddalore due to the industrial operations. Various songs and traditional theppatam dance was also presented. Later addressing the meeting, residents of Cuddalore and Mettur who were also a part of the cycle tour informed the gathering about the problems of pollution and appealed for solidarity support in their fight against the new polluting facilities planned for Cuddalore.

Cuddalore is a toxic hotspot. Numerous reports, including by the State Human Rights Commission admit that Cuddalore is overpolluted and that no new polluting industries should be set up in the region. Rather than mitigate pollution, the Government is planning to target Cuddalore residents with more and more polluting industries. Currently, the villagers are fighting a desperate battle to prevent the setting up of a PVC plastic factory by Chemplast Sanmar in Semmankuppam village. A 1320 MW thermal power plant, several textile dyeing industries, a 6 million tonnes per annum oil refinery and a scheme to pump toxic effluents from textile dyeing units in Tiruppur is part of plans to sacrifice Cuddalore.

The tour was first launched in November 2006, where 19 members including youth from Chennai visited SIPCOT Cuddalore to have a first hand experience of the living conditions and environmental pollution in the area and bring the message back to Chennai on the cycles. The tour had to be discontinued after an accident which claimed one of the cyclists life. 20 year old K. Gurubalan drowned in a pond after he entered it for bathing while taking a break en route. The participants of the tour resumed their journey in memory of Guru to spread the message on environment. "Guru was deeply affected by the horrendous environmental condition in SIPCOT Cuddalore. His death has made our resolve to fight injustice in Cuddalore stronger," said Jeny Doly of Youth for Social Change who joined the tour for the first time.

For more details contact:
Nityanand Jayaraman – 9444082401
Shweta Narayan – 9444024315

International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal; The Other Media; Cuddalore District Consumer Protection Organisation, Youth for Social Change, SIPCOT Area Community Environmental Monitoring, DEPORT.

www.sipcotcuddalore.com

Cycle Rally Reception at Chengalpattu – Songs and Speeches Mark the Day

Nity reports from Chengalpattu, 11 February, 7:00 am: We covered a distance of about 70 km yesterday from Tindivanam to Chengalpettu. The first half of the journey was very pleasant as the weather was nice. We took a lot of breaks on the way. The route itself was a treat to the eyes as the entire area is full of water bodies. Though it was a beautiful site we also shivered at the thought of what the future of the lakes would be given the government is aggressively planning new projects on the lakes of the area. In Tindivanam itself there are plans to fill up two lakes. A government medical college and a bus station will be built on the lakes. The cyclists were amused at the irony of the situation since this was happening in the home town of Minister of Health Dr. Anbumani Ramdoss of Patali Makkal Katchi (PMK) who has often talked about cleaning of tanks and lakes.

About 30 km from Tindivanam there is the famous Madurantakam lake. The lake is so massive that it looks like a sea. We saw a lot of encroachment on the lake. The highway has been constructed right on the banks of the lake also we saw massive earth movers near the lake and it seems that the government is constructing a bus station on a portion of the lake.
We reached Chengalpettu and had an hour and half long meeting near the general hospital. There were songs and skits presented which related to the water shortage in the Palar basin on which Chengalpettu is located. The villagers explained that despite being in a water rich area illegal sand mining and extraction of water by companies to supply it to Chennai has made water a scarce resource in the region. G. K. Amrithalingam gave an impassioned speech on Cuddalore and informed the people about the impending dangers in Cuddalore. He appealed to the public to join hands to fight the Chemplast PVC plant proposal in Cuddalore. A Mani from Mettur spoke about Chemplast and its pollution in Mettur. He informed the people that both Chemplast and MALCO withdraw water from Stanley reservoir and then discharge poisoned water into the river Cauveri. Mani also questioned the priority of the nation highlighting that supplying water to the industries is more important to the government than quenching the thirst of water starved villagers. He informed the people that more than 2000 acres of land have been laid waste because of the pollution from Chemplast. He mentioned that as a victim of Chemplast pollution he did not want any one to face a similar fate and that was the reason why he took leave from his employer to join the rally and spread the message.

The fisher leader from Cuddalore Kuppam on the East Coast Road (not to be confused with Cuddalore district) spoke next and emphasised that Cuddalore is not a stand alone story of pollution but similar stories are everywhere. Highlighting the problems of Manali, Kalpakam atomic plant and industrial discharge in Buckhingam Canal the leader emphasised that Cuddalore was in making everywhere.

Jeny Doly of Youth for Social Change spoke about the role of youth and mentioned that the youth cannot keep quiet in these times when there is so much of injustice as they are the leaders of tomorrow. She mentioned that the youth of today cannot make the mistake of adults of today. She spoke about Gurubalan and said that last time also youth led the rally and this time their motivation is stronger many of his friends felt it is important to take the tour forward and are supporting the campaign. She mentioned that as the youth see the industrial pollution in Cuddalore as a symptom of a much larger malice of development in India and their group will encourage youth to question the path of development that the country is embarking upon and steer it towards environmentally sustainable and socially just road.

www.sipcotcuddalore.com

Cycle Tour for Environment Awareness About Cuddalore Pollution Resumes

Chennai/ Tindivanam, 9 February 2007: Chennai youth and representatives from pollution-impacted communities in SIPCOT, Cuddalore and Mettur today left Tindivanam town on a cycle tour to spread awareness about environmental and human rights violations in SIPCOT Cuddalore due to industrial pollution. The tour resumed from Tindivanam where it was earlier suspended in November 2006 following a tragic incident that claimed a life of K. Gurubalan, a cyclist from the group. "Industrial pollution has converted Cuddalore into a disaster zone. We are pained at the horrible environmental conditions under which people in SIPCOT Cuddalore live, and we're undertaking this cycle tour to appeal to the Government to improve conditions in Cuddalore," said Rupesh Kumar, a representative of Youth for Social Change, one of the coorganisers of the event. The tour will cover a distance of about 150 kilometers and arrive in Chennai on 11 February 2007.

Cuddalore is a toxic hotspot. Numerous reports, including by the State Human Rights Commission admit that Cuddalore is overpolluted and that no new polluting industries should be set up in the region. Rather than mitigate pollution, the Government is planning to target Cuddalore residents with more and more polluting industries. Currently, the villagers are fighting a desperate battle to prevent the setting up of a PVC plastic factory by Chemplast Sanmar in Semmankuppam village. A 1320 MW thermal power plant, several textile dyeing industries, a 6 million tonnes per annum oil refinery and a scheme to pump toxic effluents from textile dyeing units in Tiruppur is part of plans to sacrifice Cuddalore.

The tour will hold public meetings at Tindivanam, Chegalpettau, Kovalam and will be joined by students of Vidya Sagar in Besant Nagar before culminating at Urur Kuppam temple square where it will be welcomed by the renowned Tamil actress Kalai Rani followed by a solidarity meeting of support groups from Chennai and a cultural evening.

The tour was first launched in November 2006, where 19 members including youth from Chennai visited SIPCOT Cuddalore to have a first hand experience of the living conditions and environmental pollution in the area and bring the message back to Chennai on the cycles. The tour had covered a distance of about 100 km and left Pondicherry when the accident happened. 20 year old K. Gurubalan drowned in a pond after he entered it for bathing while taking a break en route. "We were all shocked at the incident, Guru was deeply affected by the horrendous environmental condition in SIPCOT Cuddalore. His death has made our resolve to fight injustice in Cuddalore stronger," said Jeny Doly of Youth for Social Change who will be joining the tour for the first time.

www.sipcotcuddalore.com

For more details contact:
Nityanand Jayaraman – 9444082401
Shweta Narayan – 9444024315

International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal; The Other Media; Cuddalore District Consumer Protection Organisation, Youth for Social Change, SIPCOT Area Community Environmental Monitoring, DEPORT.
No 42a, 1st Floor, 5th Avenue, Besant Nagar, Chennai - 600 090

Related links:
Environmental Cycle Tour Suspended After Young Cyclist Dies in Accident

Remember Bhopal;Fight for Cuddalore

1000 Bhopals Photo Exhibition Launched by Kanimozhi

Renowned Tamil poetess Kanimozhi inaugurates 1000 Bhopals photo exhibition

Cuddalore municipality to fix dual charges - The Hindu

The Cuddalore municipality has proposed to fix dual charges for the households and commercial establishments for the proposed underground drainage facilities. The drainage is project estimated to cost Rs. 40.40 crore. The civic body has proposed to mobilise the resources as follows: Rs.10 crore through grant, Rs.15.36 crore through loans and Rs.15.04 crore from the households full story>>

Golden era

The year started with a sad news for the people of Cuddalore. The news of District Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi's transfer took all in grief. His transfer is an irrecoverable loss for Cuddalore.

He changed the outlook of Cuddalore as he promised while taking charge three years ago. He made a sudden visit to Government Hospital as soon as he took charge and took stern action on negligence and corruption, and improved the amenities there. Next it was the Anna Stadium. He took steps and completed the construction of swimming pool which was pending for several years and constructed a new sidewalk. He initiated the construction of squash courts and synthetic tennis courts. His encroachment eviction drive Lawrence Road is seen as a bold step. Then came broad and beautiful sidewalk along Lawrence Road. New medians, high mast lamps, cascades, island parks, fountains and street lights lifted the face of Cuddalore. The construction of pedestrian pathways and medians are on way in the Cuddalore OT. He took great effort to bring underground drainage system.

Two rivers running across the town and forming estuaries, Cuddalore was in desperate need of more number of bridges. Decades of struggle was in vain until this great man took charge. He constructed bridge connecting Kammianpet and Semmandalam which will be changing Cuddalore completely in the near future. He expedited the land acquisition and completed the railway overbridge in Tirupadhiripuliyur. A bridge connection Singarathope fishing village and Cuddalore mainland which later saved thousands of lives during the tsunami. The work on two more bridges connecting the Devanampattinam with Cuddalore is nearing completion.

Silver Beach got a new look during his period. Rows of chairs, play materials for children, baywatch stage and a jetty were built and all washed away by tsunami. Again there were new chairs, play materials and a new boat house, this time washed away by floods. But all these were brought again by collector. The new boat house that is being built is even more beautiful and the new police outpost unique of its sort.

New parks came up. The Subburayulu Reddiar park got a new look and the tower in the park was renovated- new landmark. Aquarium in the park is nearing completion. Similarly Gandhi Park in Cuddalore OT got a new look.

His work during tsunami and flood(2005) was phenomenal. It is his work that made Cuddalore is made as model for reconstruction and rehabilitation work for other tsunami affected regions. Countries which are consider as most developed has starting learning from his work.

His another remarkable achievement was making the people from rival fishing communities work together in Self-Help groups. There is lives are changed forever. No one else could have done this.

I have listed only some of the work he has done in Cuddalore town. In fact he has done a lot in other towns and villages in the district.

He changed our town and thus our life and won all our hearts. Until now District Collector's Camp Office is seen as a place where Robert Clive has spent his year. Future generations will see it as a place where Gagandeep Singh Bedi lived. His period is a golden era in the history of Cuddalore.

Construction of tsunami retention wall begins

A makeshift road is laid in Silver Beach to facilitate the easy transportation of trucks carrying construction materials for building tsunami retention wall in the fishing hamlets near Cuddalore Old Town.

A truck carrying construction materials for building tsunami retention wall in Singarathoppu.

Related article
Two years of resilience

Special recongnistion for Cuddalore District

Recovering From Tragedy - WashingtonPost
Lessons of Tsunami Reconstruction After Two Years

By Bill Clinton
Tuesday, December 26, 2006; Page A25

Today marks two years since the 2004 tsunami unleashed untold suffering and devastation upon Indian Ocean coastal communities. The tragic toll still resonates: more than 200,000 dead; 2 million people displaced; 370,000 homes destroyed or damaged; some 5,000 miles of coastline devastated; and 2,000 miles of roads ruined.

The tsunami was also unprecedented in the magnitude of the response by donors, the affected governments and their everyday citizens. The homeless received shelter, the hungry were fed, disease was prevented and substantial recovery has been achieved over the past 22 months. Nearly 150,000 homes have been rebuilt or repaired and 80,000 more are being reconstructed. More than 1,600 schools and health centers have been rebuilt or are under construction, tourists are returning to the region in large numbers, and economic growth rates have improved substantially.

At the same time, the tasks ahead are significant in scope and cost. Some 200,000 homes must still be rebuilt or repaired, and in Aceh in particular the challenges of rehabilitating infrastructure and promoting economic development remain daunting. In light of the work to be done, it is encouraging that so many donors have sustained their focus, thus far translating some $13 billion in pledges into roughly $11 billion in firm commitments to critical projects.

I have just completed my third and final trip to the affected region as the U.N. secretary general's special envoy for tsunami recovery. In India, Thailand and Indonesia, I saw once again the resilience of the human spirit and the determination to build a better tomorrow.

At year's end, the mandate entrusted to me by the secretary general will conclude and my responsibilities will be transferred to the United Nations, the World Bank and other established institutions. As this important work continues, I believe four key lessons learned from the tsunami reconstruction effort will contribute to further and faster progress, as well as to dealing with future natural disasters.

First, we must get better at managing risk. Climate change and patterns of human behavior ensure that more devastating natural disasters will occur in the future. The good news is that officials in the countries affected by the tsunami have made progress on a regional early-warning system, natural disaster prevention legislation, training of rapid-response personnel and public education. However, funding for prevention is much harder to come by than funding for relief after a disaster. Donors and governments of at-risk nations must invest much more money to ensure that early-warning systems reach coastal communities, that safe building codes are developed and enforced, and that evacuations are practiced.

Second, we should pursue recovery practices that promote equity and help break patterns of underdevelopment. In the Cuddalore District of India, for example, officials have worked with nongovernmental organizations to expand their post-tsunami housing program to include new homes for Dalits and members of other disadvantaged communities. Many of these people did not lose assets in the tsunami but had been living in substandard conditions. Authorities in Aceh are considering similar solutions for former squatters and renters who did not own the housing they lost in the tsunami. Such efforts should be strongly encouraged.

Third, we must recognize that peace is critical to any recovery process. In Aceh, long-conflicted groups put aside entrenched differences and created an environment conducive to reconstruction. Tragically, the tsunami has not had a similar impact on reconciliation in Sri Lanka, where the recovery will be continue to be hampered until the parties resume a serious dialogue and reestablish the cease-fire. I hope they will choose to work for peace; all of Sri Lanka, especially the tsunami victims, will continue to suffer until they do.

Finally, we must do more to harness the talents of local entrepreneurs and established businesses, domestic and foreign, in relaunching economies. Corporations in the United States and around the world contributed generously to the tsunami response, but we need to do more to turn philanthropists into investors, and providers of access to new markets.

Two years ago, millions around the world responded generously to a tragedy of historic proportions. The challenge that remains is to sustain the recovery effort, use the lessons we are learning to continually improve our response, and apply those lessons to mitigate and respond to future disasters. This will be the most fitting way to honor the memory of the hundreds of thousands who died in the tsunami and to support the millions who survived and are rebuilding their lives.

The writer, the 42nd president, is president of the William J. Clinton Foundation.

Two years of resilience

Two years past since tsunami waves struck. International aid poured in to all the tsunami affected parts of the world. It is Cuddalore which leads in tsunami reconstruction and rehabilitation. New houses, schools, Self Help Groups and community-disaster alert systems are put in place. National disaster relief fund from various states are used thoughtfully in several other projects like building bridges in affected areas.

Two weeks back former US President Bill Clinton, who visited Cuddalore as a UN special envoy for tsunami relief, greatly applauded the active steps taken by our district administrator Mr. Gagadeep Singh Bedi. India's over all response to the tsunami disaster work was good. But what has happened in Cuddalore in the past two years was excellent. It is because of our dynamic collector Mr. Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Cuddalore has seen such an immense reconstruction in the post disaster period. According to Clinton, providing housing was "the hardest thing to do". He added while in other places only 30% of the houses were built, "In Cuddalore, even those not affected by the tsunami but identified as "vulnerable" had been given houses." He went on to say "Florida can learn from Cuddalore" and that he want Cuddalore model of disaster management to be implemented throughout the world.

"Florida can learn from Cuddalore" simply means, administrators of Florida must learn from the administrator of Cuddalore. His work of coordinating and directing various governmental and non-grovernmental organisations in post tsunami period was phenomenal. If Cuddalore has got so much, it is because of this "good man here".

When rest of the tsunami affected world is still in their early stages of tsunami reconstruction, Cuddalore had almost come to the final stages of the work, Tsunami Retention Wall for the vulnerable communities along the coast line . Work for the construction of tsunami retention wall has begun in full swing. Fishing villages in Cuddalore district will soon get rid of the fear of tsunami.

Fishermen in Cuddalore use GPS to catch fish

Tsunami has brought about a lot of change is life of fishing community in Cuddalore district. Better public addressing and warning systems are put in all coastal hamlets in Cuddalore, and a new Global Positioning System (GPS) is used to guide the fisheries off the coast explains the article Now, technology ensures smooth sailing for them .

Federer plays cricket in Cuddalore

Swiss tennis player and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Roger Federer plays cricket during his visit to the Kinnur Pudupettai village of Cuddalore, about 165 km (103 miles) from the southern Indian city of Chennai, December 23, 2006. Federer refused to put his feet up during the tennis off-season and instead utilised his time to visit tsunami survivors in Southern India on Friday.


Switzerland's World number one tennis player and UNICEF Ambassador Roger Federer (R) holds a cricket bat while shaking hands with a child during a visit to the tsunami affected village of Kinnur Pudupettai, some 180kms south of Chennai, 23 December 2006. Over 200,000 people lost their lives in the 2004 tsunami which hit the Indian Ocean coastline, 8,000 of them in Tamil Nadu. UNICEF has been working on relief and recovery in 8 countries since the tsunami struck, building shelters but also steering programmes in health and nutrition, drinking water, education and child protection.

Source: MSNBC

Photo: Federer in Cuddalore

District Collector Mr. Gagandeepsingh Bedi with Roger Federer

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Federer's Cuddalore visit update

Federer Praises Resilient Tsunami Victims in UNICEF Visit - ATP Charity

On his first official field trip as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, ATP World number one Roger Federer today met with tsunami-affected children in Tamil Nadu in southern India.

The December 2004 tsunami took the lives of over 200,000 people, with India accounting for 18,000 dead or missing. One-third of the victims were children. Tamil Nadu was the hardest hit state, with 8,000 dead, 351 severely-damaged child care centers and 186 destroyed schools. Three days before the second anniversary of the tsunami, Federer visited UNICEF's
recovery and rehabilitation programmes in Cuddalore, one of the worst affected districts of Tamil Nadu.

"It's amazing to see how young people are using the rebuilding process as an opportunity to improve their lives and strengthen their community," said Federer. "The way these children are bouncing back from even the toughest tragedy is a testament to their resiliency."

In Cuddalore, Federer met with children who have chairs and tables at school for the first time. Across the tsunami-hit districts of Tamil Nadu UNICEF has provided 330 schools with furniture and learning materials, which benefit around 140,000 children and 3,500 teachers.The improvements in their school include programmes to learn through participation rather
than by rote and the use of puppet theatre to help them cope with post-tsunami trauma. Federer also met with UNICEF- trained early child care workers at one of the 351 restored government centres where pre-school children are able to get essential health care, nutrition supplements and informal early education. .

Along with District Collector Mr. Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Federer visited the Cuddalore Orphanage. UNICEF has helped to establish a tracking system to monitor around 2,000 children in Tamil Nadu who lost one or both parents in the tsunami, including those in the orphanage. As part of the tsunami psycho social support programme more than 114,000 children have been reached through counseling, art, puppetry and children's theatre.

"Many of the programmes we set up in the tsunami hit communities, such as education programmes and child protection interventions, will now serve as a model for the rest of the state to follow," said Thomas George, UNICEF State Representative, Tamil Nadu. "Our focus has been to improve equity to services and to truly build back better for the children of Tamil Nadu."

Federer's day ended by meeting with teenagers who are learning about HIV through a life-skills programme that is giving them the practical information they need to make responsible decisions and spread awareness about the disease.

"It's great to see the young people so full of life and spirit. Despite what happened to their community, they have really managed to turn things around," said Federer.

Federer's Cuddalore visit

Goodwill Ambassador Roger Federer sees tsunami recovery progress in Tamil Nadu - UNICEF

CUDDALORE, India, 22 December 2006 – Just days before the second anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami, tennis great and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Roger Federer visited Tamil Nadu, India, witnessing firsthand the progress made to help tsunami-affected communities ‘build back better’.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Roger Federer meets children and staff at the Government Home for Tsunami-Affected Children in the city of Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, India.

The tsunami killed some 8,000 people in Tamil Nadu alone, destroyed nearly 200 schools and damaged more than 350 child care centres. On his first field trip since becoming a Goodwill Ambassador, Mr. Federer toured UNICEF-supported recovery and rehabilitation programmes in Cuddalore, a district devastated by the tsunami.

He met with many schoolchildren who, for the first time, have chairs and tables in their classrooms. As part of the recovery effort, new furniture and learning materials have been provided to 330 schools, benefiting some 40,000 children and 3,500 teachers.

‘Bouncing back’

Apart from the improved leaning environment, Mr. Federer also saw new ‘child-friendly’ learning and teaching methods being introduced in the schools.

Another post-tsunami initiative here – psycho-social support for traumatized children – has reached more than 114,000 children through counselling, art, puppetry and children’s theatre.

At Thazanguda Government School in Tamil Nadu, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Roger Federer signs autographs.

“It’s amazing to see how young people are using the rebuilding process as an opportunity to improve their lives and strengthen their community,” said Mr. Federer. “The way these children are bouncing back from even the toughest tragedy is a testament to their resiliency.”

Ms. Federer went on to visit an early childhood centre, one of the 351 such facilities rehabilitated with UNICEF’s support. The centre is equipped to provide young children with education, nutritious meals and basic health care.

Along with District Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Mr. Federer also met with the children in the Cuddalore Orphanage. UNICEF has helped establish a tracking system to monitor and protect some 2,000 children, including those in the orphanage, who lost one or both of their parents in the tsunami.

Education and child protection

“Our focus has been to improve equity to services and to truly build back better for the children of Tamil Nadu,” said UNICEF’s State Representative in Tamil Nadu, Thomas George. “Many of the programmes we set up in the tsunami-hit communities, such as education programmes and child protection interventions, will now serve as a model for the rest of the state to follow.”

Mr. Federer’s first day in Tamil Nadu ended with him meeting young people at a life skills workshop, which offered practical information to help them make responsible decisions – such as better protecting themselves from HIV/AIDS and educating others about the disease.

“It’s great to see the young people so full of life and spirit,” remarked Mr. Federer. “Despite what happened to their community, they have really managed to turn things around.”