Tsunami survivors overcome scars of 2004 with resilience

The ineffaceable scars of the tragic loss of their close blood relations still haunt the survivors 20 years after the Tsunami struck on the fateful morning of December 26, 2004.Sowmya, one of the survivors, who was rescued in Nagapattinam district that bore the brunt of the giant tidal wave killing 6,065 people, has become a mother of a girl child now. Our family felt blessed," Radhakrishnan, currently Additional Chief Secretary, Cooperative Department said.He was joined by his wife Krithika and son Dr R Arvind and Nagapattinam district collector P Akash, in showering blessings and gifts on Sowmya at her foster home in the district.Meena, rescued as a toddler, and Sowmya were among the 40 child survivors who grew up in the Annai Sathya Government Children's Home. Among them, Tamilarasi Vijayabalan, now 35, who is BSc in IT, and also holds MCA degree, is working as a teacher at the Annai Sathya Government Children's Home established post-tsunami to take care of 100 children.The home located in Samanthanpettai near Nagapattinam now takes care of victims of abuse and child marriage.Radhakrishnan was then posted as collector to oversee the relief and rehabilitation activities in Nagapattinam district.Apart from Radhakrishnan and his family, Collector Akash, district Child Protection Officer V Ezhilarasi and Juvenile Justice Board member M Malarvizhi too lauded the survivors who displayed resilience.The unprecedented devastation due to the fury of the waves affected around 50 town panchayats of six coastal districts of Kancheepuram, Villuuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari, and Thoothukud in the state.As per the intensity of disaster, the affected town panchayats were categorised as worst damaged and partially damaged and 19 out of 50 town panchayats were declared as worst damaged as the loss of lives and damage to property was high, an official said.The calm Sunday following Christmas had turned into a dreaded nightmare for several hundreds of families in the coastal districts from Cuddalore to Kanyakumari. "The state government agencies and non-governmental organisations helped to rebuild houses and restore our livelihood," says R M P Rajendira Nattar, president of Indian National Fishermen Union, Nagapattinam.In view of the 20th anniversary, the Tamil Nadu government should take steps to waive off the the fishers' contribution of Rs 11.34 crore towards the establishment of the mini fishing harbour in Nambiyarnagar in the district.