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The Tsunami Files: A New Village, a New Life

January 12, 2011

By pwrdf

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The village of Periathazhai, India used to sit right on the shore of the Indian Ocean.  This allowed the almost 2000 families who lived there to check the ocean conditions each day, as their fathers and grandfathers had done, and determine if the fishing would be good.  They would then head out about 18 miles offshore to get the best catches, and return home to dry their catch and sell it to merchants who would visit the village and buy from each family individually.

All of this changed on December 26, 2004.  The tsunami which struck the Indian Ocean that day destroyed Periathazhai.  It changed the seabed close to shore, altering the patterns of fish and ocean conditions.  It salinated the ground water, making it unfit for consumption.  Industrialization began to convert local land to salt flats, supporting the interests of business over the villagers.

PWRDF, along with the Presbyterian, United, and Mennonite Churches, worked with the people of Periathazhai for five years after the tsunami, helping to build homes, support livelihoods, and restore hope.  Working through the Churches Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), permanent houses were built for 45 families about a kilometer from the ocean on a 120′ high hill.  These new concrete homes, along with the added height, have alleviated people’s fear of being affected by another tsunami.

CASA started a micro-credit program in the village.  The Self-Help Group received 75,000 rupees (about $2,000Cdn) in seed money.  This money is used as a revolving fund, enabling members in the group to purchase fishing gear for their families, pay for their children’s education, family functions like weddings, and health care.

On the first Saturday of each month, the group meets to review applications to the fund and decide which members will receive loans.  Loans are repaid monthly except for April, May, and June when every rupee is needed to keep the family going during the fishing off-season.  A minimal interest rate of 2% is charged on loans, which is used to increase the capital available for new loans.  In addition, each member of the group pays a 10 rupee subscription monthly and contributes 50 rupees to savings.

Thanks to the work of PWRDF through CASA, these families now have hope and security.  They have built a strong community together, and will continue to support each other despite the difficulties of encroaching industrialization and changing climate in their area.

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