German/Austrian and Indian's Children Fund
(DIK/OIK)

This project was started in 1995 with an average funding of Rs.20 lakhs per year.  The project has several activities. It supports educational institutions especially the Kuilapalayam School Trust, Health Service in the villages, Sports Activities for local youth and a great range of socially relevant programmes which need help and encouragement.

Activities carried out for Tsunami-hit Fisherman Communities

·     Anumandaikuppam is the fishermen settlement of Anumandai, a village located on the East Coast Road between Pondicherry and Marakkanam, at 30 kms distance from Pondicherry. Anumandaikuppam has been affected by the tsunami in December 2004. 

·     The fishermen community approached Palmyra to assist them for rehabilitation work to improve their livelihood.  Two women SHGs, comprising of 40 women in total were formed in March 2005. One group has been named “Alaiyosai” (sea wave sound), and the other group “Kadalparavai” (sea birds).   

·     Purchase of Fish Nets: The two women groups decided that on a priority basis new nets of different varieties should be purchased. For this purpose a group was formed and in May 2005, they, together with Palmyra, went to Chennai and bought 40 sets of new different nets.  

·     SHG members requested Palmyra to provide financial assistance for the purchase. Based on their requests, 1400 kg (Rs.260/kg) of fishing nets were purchased at a cost of Rs.3,64,000/- for the use of 40 families. The amount paid by the members was Rs.1,20,000/- and the remaining Rs.2,44,000/- paid by Palmyra from grants provided by DIK. These 40 nets were distributed by the director of Palmyra during a function held at Anumandaikuppam on 7^th June 2005.   

·     These SHG members repaid the new net cost amount of Rs.1,72,000/- in to their own SHG account as on March 2006 and the amount is being revolved by SHG members for their needs.  Apart from the net amount, they have regular monthly savings amount of Rs.1,34,000/-  

·     Model House: The village panchayath donated 1500 square feet of land in the village to the SHGs to construct a model house as envisaged by Palmyra.  The construction work was carried out by the Auroville Earth Institute; it was completed in October 2005. From January 2006 onwards, these two SHGs have been utilizing the house for keeping their records and for conducting meetings and trainings etc.  The model house can be copied and/or modified by the govt. authorities or by the fishermen communities according to their needs.

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