DanChurchAid
India
LWS in India after the tsunami
Just a good friend
The government gave Rs 200,000 (USD 4,444) compensation for each victim. Maleu’s husband made a fixed deposit of Rs 20,000 in each of the child’s name and ran away with the rest of the money!
The family fell into complete disarray
The eldest son, himself a child, started looking after the other children. They stopped going to school and there was total mayhem in the family with nobody to bathe the children or wash and clean for them. The youngest child, 4-year-old Anbarasi became absolutely withdrawn from trauma as if she had suddenly been struck dumb. She refused to talk to anybody, continuously cried and sucked her thumb. However, food was provided to them everyday by an old and ailing aunt (their mother’s sister) who herself was very poor and had to feed her two sons since she was a widow.
Lutheran World Service in India took action
When Lutheran World Service – India came across this family in Thirumullaivasal village of Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu, the staff members, some of who had received training in psychosocial services, started taking special care of the children.
First, they requested their aunt, Mangal Laxmi, an exceptionally kind and noble lady, to keep the children in her house. She is doing so till this day, cooking for them and taking care of them in every possible way. Our staff members paid regular visits to their house, spoke to them, discussed their problems, gave assurances of being with them in their predicament and offered whatever psychosocial counselling was possible for them. They tried to play with Anbarasi and cajole her to talk and communicate with them. Their arduous efforts bore fruit. Anbarasi started laughing, talking and playing again. Through their intervention, four of the younger children - Appu, Shiva, Jeevaratnam and Anbarasi - are going to school again. Jeevaratnam and Anbarasi have joined school, through LWSI intervention, after the tsunami. Sometimes, it’s rewarding to be just a good friend.
LWSI provided livelihood kit
Since Mangal Laxmi’s only earning was by selling fish and that of her two sons, by working as labour in other people’s boats (where they hardly earned Rs 20-30 a day), LWSI provided livelihood support to Maleu’s eldest son, 14-year-old Anjuman, who used to work as an associate in other people’s boats before the Tsunami. LWSI livelihood kit comprising boat, engine, nets and other fishing accessories, like rope, leads and floats, is enabling Anjuman to resume fishing and earn his living again Each LWSI boat is given to five fisher families who form a Self Help Group. They are registered with the government fisheries department.
Since Mangal Laxmi’s house has borne the brunt of the tsunami and is in a dilapidated condition, she had to borrow money before the rainy season for some essential repairs to the hovel. Her name is in the LWSI list of beneficiaries for permanent houses. Aunty is now anxiously waiting for that day when she can move into her new house with her extended family to protect them from the wind, rain and cold. A house she can call home again.
By Rina Chunder, Information/Documentation Officer, Lutheran World Service - India
