Cusat to set up centre for tsunami studies

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fn:Sudarshan Rodriguez
n:Rodriguez;Sudarshan
org:UNDP-GoI Post- Tsunami Environment Initiative
adr:Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur,;;Flat 2B, Adithya Apartments,38 Balakrishna Road,;Chennai;Tamil Nadu;600041;India
email;internet:sudarshanr@yahoo.com
title:Marine Conservation Analyst
tel;work:+91 44 420 19470
tel;fax:+91 44 420 19468
tel;home:+91 44 420 19470
tel;cell:+91 9840680127
note;quoted-printable:You are not what you do , you do what you are=0D=0A=
One's profession and career should be their hobby, passion and cause
version:2.1
end:vcard

*Cusat to set up centre for tsunami studies *

Staff Reporter

/Official inauguration on Thursday /

KOCHI: Research on the impact of tsunami on the coastal areas of
Kerala is slowly getting shape. As a preliminary step, the Cochin
University of Science and Technology (Cusat) has come up with a
centre for tsunami studies.

The official inauguration of the centre will be held on Thursday.
The centre plans to set up a seismic station and a tidal-gauge
network to detect the deadly waves. A sum Rs.50 lakhs will be
utilised for setting up the facilities.

The seismic station will provide information on earthquakes while
the tidal gauge will keep tabs on tidal variations off the Kochi
shore. There are four tidal gauges along the Kerala coast, including
the one in the Kochi harbour area.

The new centre, part of Cusat's School of Marine Sciences, has plans
to prepare accurate models of tsunami propagation. The School has
already geo-morphologically mapped the Alapad and Arattupuzha areas
in Kollam and Alappuzha districts respectively that were worst hit
by the tsunami.

Tsunami centre chief coordinator K.T. Damodaran said that the centre
would identify the inundation areas and demarcate hotspots in
vulnerable areas along the southwest coast of India in general and
Kerala coast in particular. "The geo-morphological and oceanographic
studies of the areas hit by tsunami like Alapad and Arattupuzha
would get top priority during the investigation. Results yielded
from research studies would be compared with the situations
elsewhere along the coastal tract of Kerala," Dr. Damodaran said.

Note created Jul 18, 2006
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www.hindu.com/...

High alert in Andaman, West Bengal following tsunami

begin:vcard
fn:Sudarshan Rodriguez
n:Rodriguez;Sudarshan
org:UNDP-GoI Post- Tsunami Environment Initiative
adr:Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur,;;Flat 2B, Adithya Apartments,38 Balakrishna Road,;Chennai;Tamil Nadu;600041;India
email;internet:sudarshanr@yahoo.com
title:Marine Conservation Analyst
tel;work:+91 44 420 19470
tel;fax:+91 44 420 19468
tel;home:+91 44 420 19470
tel;cell:+91 9840680127
note;quoted-printable:You are not what you do , you do what you are=0D=0A=
One's profession and career should be their hobby, passion and cause
version:2.1
end:vcard

Tuesday July 18 2006 00:29 IST

PTI

NEW DELHI: The coasts along the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and West Bengal were put on high alert after a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit beneath the Indian Ocean off the coast of Indonesia’s Java island on Monday but there was no central alert issued to the coastal states.

Following the tsunami, all the points in the archipelago, mainly the southern tip which is nearer to Indonesia, were alerted, a source in the Andaman and Nicobar administration said.

A meeting of the disaster management committee in the island, which was badly affected in the 2004 tsunami, also put on high alert vulnerable areas like the Indira Point, the southernmost tip of India, islands in the Campbell Bay, Katchal Island and the entire Car Nicobar island.

P S Goel, Secretary, Ocean Development Department, told PTI in New Delhi that officials were closely monitoring the situation.

‘‘No tsunami warning has been issued as there was no significant rise in the water level along the Indian coast,’’ he said.

The control room of the home ministry was also constantly in touch with the authorities in Port Blair and the coastal states.

Defence establishments in the island have also been put on high alert following the tsunami warning.

In Kolkata, West Bengal Inspector General of Police (law and order) Raj Kanojia said ‘‘We have alerted all police stations in the coastal areas of the state and asked them to issue necessary instructions to the agencies concerned.’’

Reports said that alert was sounded in the sea resort of Digha and Sankarpur Harbour.

Note created Jul 18, 2006

High alert in Andaman, West Bengal following tsunami - Newindpress.com - www.newindpress.com/...

Reports of tsunami strike keep officials on tenterhooks

begin:vcard
fn:Sudarshan Rodriguez
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adr:Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur,;;Flat 2B, Adithya Apartments,38 Balakrishna Road,;Chennai;Tamil Nadu;600041;India
email;internet:sudarshanr@yahoo.com
title:Marine Conservation Analyst
tel;work:+91 44 420 19470
tel;fax:+91 44 420 19468
tel;home:+91 44 420 19470
tel;cell:+91 9840680127
note;quoted-printable:You are not what you do , you do what you are=0D=0A=
One's profession and career should be their hobby, passion and cause
version:2.1
end:vcard

Tuesday July 18 2006 00:00 IST

CUDDALORE: The entire official machinery in the coastal town, on Monday, was on tenterhooks following television reports of a possible tsunami strike in the coastal region following an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale near Indonesia this afternoon.

District Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi alerted police, revenue, fire and rescue services and civic officials and directed them to camp at coastal hamlets.

The news of a possible tsunami strike was flashed in private television channels, including NDTV, from 3 pm onwards. Initially, a Hawai-based research organisation predicted a tsunami strike in the Indian Ocean following the quake.

Speaking to this website's newspaper, Bedi said, ‘‘Officials have been deputed to the 50 coastal hamlets soon after an alert from this website's newspaper. The government has not issued any warning to the district administration in this regard.’’

However, the Collector had alerted Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar, Chidambaram Sub-Collector Arun Roy, DSPs and tahsildars.

Officials of all departments had been deputed at the coastal hamlets and asked to remain there till further orders. They were advised not to created panic among the people by issuing a tsunami warning. They were also told not to initiate any evacuation work at the coastal habitations.

It may be noted that the coastal region was devastated by the tsunami on December 26, 2004, killing nearly about 650 persons, including a large number of children.

Jayakumar, a resident of Devanampattinam, said, ‘‘People living along the coast have gained sufficient knowledge on disaster mitigation management. Unfazed by the warning life went on as usual in the region.’’

Based on the Collector’s direction, the police prevented the public from visiting the Silver Beach in the district headquarters. However, normal life in the coastal town remained unaffected on Monday and waves continued to caress the coast as gently as ever.

Note created Jul 18, 2006

Reports of tsunami strike keep officials on tenterhooks - Newindpress.com - www.newindpress.com/...

Java tsunami causes ripples

begin:vcard
fn:Sudarshan Rodriguez
n:Rodriguez;Sudarshan
org:UNDP-GoI Post- Tsunami Environment Initiative
adr:Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur,;;Flat 2B, Adithya Apartments,38 Balakrishna Road,;Chennai;Tamil Nadu;600041;India
email;internet:sudarshanr@yahoo.com
title:Marine Conservation Analyst
tel;work:+91 44 420 19470
tel;fax:+91 44 420 19468
tel;home:+91 44 420 19470
tel;cell:+91 9840680127
note;quoted-printable:You are not what you do , you do what you are=0D=0A=
One's profession and career should be their hobby, passion and cause
version:2.1
end:vcard

Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE: The earthquake-triggered tsunami near the Java islands caused some ripples in Cuddalore on Monday. When the news about the tsunami started trickling in, the official machinery was put on alert.

There was a flurry of activity in the fishermen community to find out whether any unusual behaviour of the sea was noticed.

Note created Jul 18, 2006

The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Java tsunami causes ripples - www.hindu.com/...

Tsunami Warning Centre keeps watch

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fn:Sudarshan Rodriguez
n:Rodriguez;Sudarshan
org:UNDP-GoI Post- Tsunami Environment Initiative
adr:Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur,;;Flat 2B, Adithya Apartments,38 Balakrishna Road,;Chennai;Tamil Nadu;600041;India
email;internet:sudarshanr@yahoo.com
title:Marine Conservation Analyst
tel;work:+91 44 420 19470
tel;fax:+91 44 420 19468
tel;home:+91 44 420 19470
tel;cell:+91 9840680127
note;quoted-printable:You are not what you do , you do what you are=0D=0A=
One's profession and career should be their hobby, passion and cause
version:2.1
end:vcard

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD : Scientists at the Indian Interim Tsunami Warning Centre here swung into action soon after the 7.1 magnitude temblor rocked Indonesia and kept a constant watch on the sea levels.

The Centre located in the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) received data from different agencies, including the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, the US Geological Survey, the India Meteorological Department, the Survey of India and the Indonesian Meteorology in the wake of the earthquake.

With computed models showing that it would take four hours for a tsunami to hit the Andaman and Nicobar, and five hours to batter the Indian mainland, they kept a close watch on the situation for the period.

The Andhra Pradesh Government had alerted the coastal districts and cautioned fishermen against venturing into the sea.

Note created Jul 18, 2006

The Hindu : National : Tsunami Warning Centre keeps watch - www.hindu.com/...

Indian Ocean tsunami alert system up and running

29 June 2006
Source: SciDev.Net

The Indian Ocean's tsunami warning system is now "up and running",  UNESCO said yesterday (28 June).

A network of 26 national information centres will allow countries to receive and distribute warnings of potential tsunamis.

Impetus for creating the system came after a tsunami killed 220,000 people and left 1.5 million homeless in the region in December 2004.

With the new system, scientists will be able to pinpoint the origin of tsunamis more precisely, thanks to 25 new seismographic stations that detect underwater earthquake tremors.

Three deep-seabed sensors are in place to detect tsunami waves through tiny changes in water pressure. More equipment, including satellite sensors and more seabed sensors, will be added to the system in late 2007 and 2008.

The locations of seven regional warning centres, which will gather information from the stations and distribute it to the national centres, have not yet been agreed. In the meantime, Japan and Hawaii are fulfilling this role.

UNESCO director-general Koïchiro Matsuura had cautious praise for the new system, saying it needed to be tested in real situations and that its success depended on the open and free flow of data between nations.

He said the work is far from finished, adding that the most difficult part of establishing a warning system is building national preparedness.

"A timely and 100 per cent accurate and precise warning will not provide any protection if people to not know how to respond to the emergency," said Matsuura.

The system is being coordinated by UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, which built a warning system for the Pacific region 40 years ago.

http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2945&language=1

Multi-crore coastal housing projects

Government to provide roads, drainage, streetlights at project sites

---

Rs.14.41 crore sanctioned for dredging Cuddalore Port mouth to facilitate vessel movement to deep sea Rehabilitation benefits to be extended to Dalits and Irulas, whose livelihood depended upon marine life Rs. 3 crore protective wall proposed along the seacoast CUDDALORE: District Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi said on Wednesday that he had submitted proposals worth Rs 150 crore to the State Government to build houses for residents of coastal areas. He said the housing projects would be taken up in two phases: at 200 metres, and from 200 metres to one kilometre from the high tide mark. Those who were willing to move out of the sea front would also get fresh houses, he said. The Government will provide basic amenities such as roads, drainage and streetlights at the project sites. The State Government had allotted Rs.3.35 crore to Cuddalore for taking up road works from the World Bank funds. Work will begin after getting clearance from the Director of Town and Country Planning and the Director of Environment. Mr. Bedi also said rehabilitation measures in the tsunami-affected areas had been reviewed at a meeting with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in Chennai recently. He said that Cuddalore was ahead of other affected districts in the construction of permanent houses, with 2,050 of the targeted 2,323 houses already built. Rehabilitation benefits were being extended to the Dalits and Irulas, whose livelihood depended upon marine life. Mr. Bedi disclosed that the Asian Development Bank had sanctioned Rs.35 crore to the district for providing means of livelihood to the affected people. This was meant to ensure their speedy economic recovery. Aid to SHGs Moreover, Rs.41.50 lakh had been given away as revolving funds to Self-Help Groups set up by the coastal community. Besides this, they were being trained to start their own businesses. The Government had sanctioned Rs.14.41 crore for dredging the mouth of the Cuddalore Port to facilitate movement of fishing vessels from inland areas into the deep sea. A hook-shaped structure will be constructed at the confluence of the Vellar and the Bay of Bengal near Parangipettai for the safety of fishing boats. The Institute of Hydrogeology and Hydrology will provide the technical know-how for this. A protective wall, technically called a Rubble Mounted Seawall (RMS), has been proposed along the seacoast from Thazhanguda to Thevanampattinam at a cost of Rs.3 crore. There was also a proposal to deepen the coastline at Killai, Mr. Bedi added.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/29/stories/2006062904470300.htm

Tsunami warning system expected to deliver better results:UNESCO

New York, June 29 (PTI): Almost 18 months after the killer tsunami hit Indian Ocean countries, the entire region has a warning system which is "now up and running as scheduled" and by next month-end it is expected to deliver more better results with the augmentation of the system.

The tsunami warning system installed in Indian Ocean is capable of receiving and distributing tsunami advisories round the clock, the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which is overseeing the scheme, said.

By the end of July, UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura said, the system will be capable of improved and faster detection of strong, tsunamogenic earthquakes, increased precision in the location of the epi- and hypo centres of earthquakes and confirmation of the presence of a tsunami wave in the ocean after a strong earthquake.

Twenty-six out of a possible 28 national tsunami information centres, capable of receiving and distributing tsunami dvisories round the clock, have been set up in Indian Ocean countries.

The seismographic network has been improved, with 25 new stations being deployed and linked in real-time to analysis centres. Three Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) sensors are also operational.

At present, information bulletins are issued from Japan and Hawaii, pending a final decision on the location of regional centres in the Indian Ocean. This will be facilitated when important additional contribution including instruments such as deep-sea pressure sensors and satellites become available in late 2007 and 2008.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200606290941.htm

Tamil Nadu's 'tsunami marriages

IANS

NAGAPATTINAM: Seventeen-year-old Ambika cooks and keeps house for eight people, among them her 48-year-old husband, his first wife and their three children.

Surprised? Ambika (some names in this story have been changed) - the sole survivor of a family that perished in the December 2004 tsunami disaster - of course claims she is 18 years of age, while officials here explain the larger story behind the bizarre "tsunami marriage".

The tsunami, which killed nearly 10,000 people in Tamil Nadu, orphaned scores of young men and women. Since the government barred adoptions, relatives of the young women survivors decided to take them in using "marriage" as a cover.

In the process, however, even 13-year-olds and 14-year-olds have got "married". They may have gained a family in the process, but other forms of trauma are just beginning to unfold.

Ambika is just one of the 112 women in Nagapattinam district who have entered into what is popularly known in these parts as "tsunami marriage".

"Much too often we now have elderly uncles coming forward to shelter the teenagers by offering marriage. These marriages are called tsunami marriage," explained D. Koteeswara Rao, tsunami project coordinator for the Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF).

The marriages are not legal because a woman cannot marry under the age of 18. But NGOs say that the young women invariably claim they are adults. And as they are mostly "marrying" into relatives, the authorities are turning a blind eye.

SCARF does not give out the names of women involved in "tsunami marriages" for reasons of privacy.

"One day Ambika came to me and asked with disgust if her life would be like this for ever," Rao said, referring to the young woman's complaint about the lack of sex drive of her husband. "I had no answer."

Rao went on: "Even then 13-year-olds and 14-year-olds get married to their relatives."

The men such women are "marrying" have wives and the latter give their consent to such relationships. Some activists say these families only have an eye on the monetary compensations the orphans may have got from the government.

SCARF has been engaged in trauma care in villages along Tamil Nadu's winding coast. The disaster left nearly 200,000 people without homes, relatives or even livelihood.

Social Need Education and Human Awareness (SNEHA), an NGO, has recorded 112 tsunami marriages from communities in 20 villages in Nagapattinam, the district worst affected by the tsunami.

The young victims act like housekeepers. "We cannot stop it because the government rules say that if relatives come forward to take in victims, we must let them," said a member of an NGO.

There is no doubt that the scars of the tsunami linger on.

"More than 50 percent of the households in the tsunami-hit districts are women-headed households", SNEHA director Jesu Rethnam told IANS.

Many households are also headed by children, especially girls, often as young as ten.

In one case, a 15-year-old girl was placed in a government shelter after her mother died in the tsunami.

She fears that some family might trap her and take away all the compensation she and her siblings are entitled to.

There are other problems too.

In Kilinjalmedu village, a mechanised boat was given to a female tsunami victim. The village panchayat was upset. "What will a woman do with a boat?" someone asked, demanding that it be turned over to the panchayat.

In another village, a woman was provided an auto-rickshaw. Again, the village authorities wanted to snatch it away.

In both cases, the donors argued that the beneficiary could hire out the boat/vehicle to young men to ply.

In Chinnankudi village, women survivors were given Rs 4,000 as immediate compensation. That too led to unexpected headaches.

"Women's needs are less than men's. What will women do with so much money?" was the reaction of the panchayat. So, half of it was taken away from the women.

SCARF is counselling 48 cases of extreme trauma in children. "Two girls in Nagoor, two in Sellur, one in Samanthanpettai. Two cannot talk even a year after the tragedy and one keeps attempting suicide," said a SCARF activist.

In Cuddalore district, a woman saved herself by clinging on to a tree but the huge waves stripped her of her clothing. Till today, she hangs her head down as she walks. She just cannot overcome the humiliation.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20060702233714&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&rLink=0

Jayalalithaa denies charge on tsunami relief funds

Describes Karunanidhi's remark as "blatant lie"

---

"AIADMK regime sought Rs. 9,800 crore as assistance"

"Centre promised Rs. 2,347.19 crore, released Rs. 820.31 crore"

"State, on its own, disbursed Rs. 1,136 crore for relief and rehabilitation"

---

CHENNAI: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam General Secretary Jayalalithaa on Sunday denied Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's charge that her Government had spent only Rs. 806.32 crore on tsunami relief measures, though the Centre had sanctioned Rs. 2,347.19 crore.

Terming Mr. Karunanidhi's remark "blatant lie," Ms. Jayalalithaa said in a statement here that she had "exposed," every now and then, "falsehoods" on tsunami relief and Central assistance.

She said the AIADMK regime had sought Rs. 9,800 crore as assistance. The Centre had announced that Rs. 2,347.19 crore would be sanctioned, but released only Rs. 820.31 crore. As the Centre adopted a "step-motherly attitude," her Government, at its own initiative, disbursed Rs. 1,136 crore for relief and rehabilitation measures.

"Widely acclaimed"

She said the previous regime's actions had won the acclaim of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former U.S. President and United Nations' special envoy Bill Clinton, members of the Central officials' team, World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

Referring to Mr. Karunanidhi's remark that the Centre and funding agencies including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank had sanctioned Rs. 4,897.07 crore for relief measures, she said the international funding agencies had offered assistance because of her efforts. Though Mr. Karunanidhi was trying to give an impression that the agencies had allocated funds at his initiative, the "false propaganda" could not evoke any response from people.

During the previous regime, not only officials but also Ministers participated in the review meetings on tsunami relief and rehabilitation work, Ms. Jayalalithaa said.

An all-party meeting was held on January 7, 2005 to discuss issues related to the extent of damage caused by tsunami and long-term rehabilitation measures required.

She referred to various short-term and long-term measures undertaken by her government to ensure rehabilitation of different sections of people.

Clearing of files

Ms. Jayalalithaa criticised the Chief Minister for his remark at a recent meeting that he had to clear some files not signed by her. Though she had to sign hundreds of files when she assumed charge as Chief Minister in 2001 as they had not been cleared by her predecessor, she did not publicise it.

Instead of attempting to "divert the attention" of the people, the Chief Minister should take steps to release Rs.7,000 crore due to cooperative banks after the cooperative farm loans were waived. She urged the Government to immediately provide fresh farm loans to the tune of Rs.1,000 crore.

Note created Jun 30, 2006

The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Jayalalithaa denies charge on tsunami relief funds - www.hindu.com/...

Permanent houses for families affected by tsunami by year-end,,Staff Reporter

Survey on to identify edifices near sea, which are vulnerable to natural calamities

Tuticorin: Collector R. Palaniyandi has said work on construction of 781 permanent houses for tsunami-hit families, each built at a cost of Rs.1.5 lakh on a 300 square feet area, would be expedited, and handed over to the beneficiaries before the end of this year.

Of the total houses, 152 were being established at Manappadu, 70 at Kayalpattinam, 23 at Veerapandianpattinam, 72 at Tiruchendur, 81 at Kulasekarapattinam, 45 at Periyathalai, 75 at Vembar, 16 at Keezha Vyppar, 15 at Chippikulam, 27 at Tharuvaikulam, three at Pattinamaradur and 202 in Tuticorin, he said.

Dr. Palaniyandi added that a survey was under way in the 23 coastal villages in the district to identify edifices situated within one km from the sea, which are vulnerable to natural calamities such as tsunami.

"A report based on the surveyhighlighting the number of houses needed to be reconstructed, will be submitted to the government before July 15." All houses which were built of mud walls and thatched roofs should be reconstructed, Dr Palaniyandi added.

Relief for woman

Earlier on Monday, Dr. Palaniyandi distributed relief to the kin of Kumaravel, who was killed in an accident at Ettayapuram last year.Ramalakshmi, wife of the deceased, received Rs. 15,000 under Accident Relief Fund Scheme of ther State Government.

 

Note created Jun 30, 2006

The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Tuticorin News : Permanent houses for families affected by tsunami by year- - pagead2.googlesyndication.com/...

Stalin inaugurates tsunami rehab projects

NAGAPATTINAM: In a day-long crowded programmes in Nagapattinam district on Monday, Local Administration Minister M.K Stalin inaugurated several completed projects, laid foundation stones for new projects, distributed welfare assistance, inspected ongoing development works and heard the grievances of the public.

Later in the day, the Minister declared open various new buildings here. At Keechankuppam village, he inaugurated a fish auction centre constructed by the Metro Cash and Carry India Limited at a cost of Rs 58 lakh as part of its tsunami rehabilitation activities.

He reviewed the progress of the Combined Water Scheme being implemented at a cost of Rs 98 crore in the district and building construction work in the tsunami-hit Nagapattinam Government Hospital.

Stalin also visited the sites where permanent houses are being constructed for the tsunami-affected fishermen. At Pappakoil village, he visited the Periyam Memorial Samathuvapuram and interacted with the people there.

Later, he visited the Government-run Annai Satya Home for Tsunami Orphans and distributed sweets to the children.

At Akkaraipettai village, he interacted with the members of women SHGs. And near Nagapattinam bus stand, he planted 83 saplings to mark the 83 birthday of Chief Minister Karunanidhi.

The Minister also distributed welfare assistance to the tune of Rs 24.6 lakh to beneficiaries under various schemes. He also distributed marriage assistance to 12 women under the Moovalur Ramamirdham Ammaiyar Marriage Assistance Scheme.

Note created Jun 30, 2006

Stalin inaugurates tsunami rehab projects - Newindpress.com - www.newindpress.com/...

Marital woes of Tsunami victims

IANS

NAGAPATTINAM: Seventeen-year-old Ambika cooks and keeps house for eight people, among them her 48-year-old husband, his first wife and their three children.

Surprised? Ambika (some names in this story have been changed) - the sole survivor of a family that perished in the December 2004 tsunami disaster - of course claims she is 18 years of age, while officials here explain the larger story behind the bizarre “tsunami marriage”.

The tsunami, which killed nearly 10,000 people in Tamil Nadu, orphaned scores of young men and women. Since the government barred adoptions, relatives of the young women survivors decided to take them in using “marriage” as a cover.

In the process, however, even 13-year-olds and 14-year-olds have got “married”. They may have gained a family in the process, but other forms of trauma are just beginning to unfold.

Ambika is just one of the 112 women in Nagapattinam district who have entered into what is popularly known in these parts as “tsunami marriage”.

“Much too often we now have elderly uncles coming forward to shelter the teenagers by offering marriage. These marriages are called tsunami marriage,” explained D Koteeswara Rao, Tsunami Project Coordinator for the Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF).

The marriages are not legal because a woman cannot marry under the age of 18. But NGOs say that the young women invariably claim they are adults. And as they are mostly “marrying” into relatives, the authorities are turning a blind eye.

SCARF does not give out the names of women involved in “tsunami marriages” for reasons of privacy. “One day Ambika came to me and asked with disgust if her life would be like this for ever,” Rao said, referring to the young woman's complaint about the lack of sex drive of her husband. “I had no answer.”

Rao went on, “even then 13-year-olds and 14-year-olds get married to their relatives.” The men such women are ‘marrying’ have wives and the latter give their consent to such relationships. Some activists say these families only have an eye on the monetary compensations the orphans may have got from the government.

SCARF has been engaged in trauma care in villages along Tamil Nadu's winding coast. The disaster left nearly 200,000 people without homes, relatives or even livelihood.

Social Need Education and Human Awareness (SNEHA), an NGO, has recorded 112 tsunami marriages from communities in 20 villages in Nagapattinam, the district worst affected by the tsunami.

The young victims act like housekeepers. “We cannot stop it because the government rules say that if relatives come forward to take in victims, we must let them,” said a member of an NGO.

There is no doubt that the scars of the tsunami linger on. “More than 50 percent of the households in the tsunami-hit districts are women-headed households”, SNEHA Director Jesu Rethnam told IANS.

Many households are also headed by children, especially girls, often as young as 10. In one case, a 15-year-old girl was placed in a government shelter after her mother died in the tsunami.

She fears that some family might trap her and take away all the compensation she and her siblings are entitled to.

There are other problems too. In Kilinjalmedu village, a mechanised boat was given to a female tsunami victim. The village panchayat was upset. “What will a woman do with a boat?” someone asked, demanding that it be turned over to the panchayat.

In another village, a woman was provided an auto-rickshaw. Again, the village authorities wanted to snatch it away. In both cases, the donors argued that the beneficiary could hire out the boat/vehicle to young men to ply.

In Chinnankudi village, women survivors were given Rs 4,000 as immediate compensation. That too led to unexpected headaches. “Women's needs are less than men's. What will women do with so much money?” was the reaction of the Panchayat. So, half of it was taken away from the women.

SCARF is counselling 48 cases of extreme trauma in children. “Two girls in Nagoor, two in Sellur, one in Samanthanpettai. Two cannot talk even a year after the tragedy and one keeps attempting suicide,” said a SCARF activist.

In Cuddalore district, a woman saved herself by clinging on to a tree but the huge waves stripped her of her clothing. Till today, she hangs her head down as she walks. She just cannot overcome the humiliation.

Note created Jun 30, 2006

Marital woes of Tsunami victims - Newindpress.com - www.newindpress.com/...