After the waves hit

We take a look into the lives of tsunami survivors in Puducherry. The roaring waves of tsunami are still fresh in their minds even after seven years of the incident. That Sunday in December 2004 washed away all their dreams along with their belongings.

The fisher folk of Pillaichavadi shared their grievances with us. Though the government and NGOs provided relief funds, boats and built houses, they could not make the best utilisation of these aids due to various reasons. The houses they got are kilometers inland and this forces them to let the houses for rent and continue to stay near the sea in makeshift huts. The four kg rice and one kg dal provided by the government per person every month is not enough to meet their demands. The situation of families who do not own boats is much worse. Hike in food and petroleum prices adds to their woes.

Nature has also turned its face against them. Tsunami has altered the topography and the nature of sea bed, dramatically dwindling fish population leaving their nets empty. Even though the sea has taken their lives and left deep scars, it is the same sea they depend on to rebuild their lives.

Sruthy K

1st yr. MA. MASS COMMUNICATION