Relief work for the victims of Cyclone Gaja: In network with Manitham and other volunteers ASSIST was able to coordinate the relief work of the province and distribute the contribution of the Salesian Family for 450 people affected by cyclone in 6 villages. ASSIST has adopted a village and it will engage in the full rehabilitation of the 50 families in the village including construction and promotion of livelihood.
Emergency Response following devastation of Gaja, a severe cyclonic storm in Tamil Nadu, India
The Livelihood-Based Cyclone Recovery activity, designed to contribute to the livelihood recovery of cyclone-affected small-scale farmer households and Agricultural coolies, has been implemented in Athivetti, Pichinikattu villages located in Pattukottai Thaluka. 87 families have benefitted through this intervention. Funded by Misean Cara the project addressed the immediate income generation needs of the agricultural collies who are the targeted beneficiary households in Pattukottai District.
The planned activity was implementated on 19th May 2019 as a collaborative effort. Mr. Lenin the Director of Agaveli Trust had identified the list of beneficiaries in collaboration with the local leaders. Mr. Aruldoss the State Convenor of NAPM was the main person who coordinated the entire process of distribution of goat for the deserving poor. The distribution of the goats was witnessed by Sr. Angels the Provincial Economer, Staff of ASSIST, Mrs. Seetha Mahendran and Mr. Arun the Founderess and Director of NEWS Trust. The beneficiaries were agricultural laborers who lost their source of earning their daily wages due to the severe cyclonic attack in the area. The process of reviving income generation through livelihood was very successful in term of strengthening the women’ participation in household decision-making as most of the beneficiaries were women.
The moment of distribution was utilized to give awareness on the benefits of goat rearing. Goats are multipurpose domestic animals that remain central to the subsistence, economic and social livelihoods. As part of the livelihood recovery of the cyclone affected people, the project purchased and distributed 87 goats to 87 families.