With the Gaja cyclone ravaging the Delta region, the city of Chennai has been doing its bit in helping affected districts return to normalcy, with its NGOs and volunteers. One such organisation is the Rotary Club of Kodambakkam.
On the wee hours on Saturday last, the club sent two truckloads of relief materials along with ten of its members to villages in-and-around Vedaranyam and Pudukottai.
“We collaborated with the Rotary Club there, and for over a week we were involved in collecting the required materials. We decided to distribute it ourselves to the people in remote villages where little help has reached,” says Vijaykumar, its treasurer.
“We have collected materials worth Rs 5 lakh, that comprised edible items apart from dresses, tarpaulin sheets, utensils, bedsheets and tree cutting machines. We also took seed boxes,” he adds.
The team reached out to people in villages like Naalu Vedapathi, Pushpavanam, Aarukaatudurai, it is learnt.
“These were the places that were directly affected as they fell under the eye of the cyclone. As far as the damages are concerned, almost all the trees in these areas have been destroyed, and those who lived in huts and asbestos-homes have lost everything.”
“However none of the villages had casualties, due to good preparedness,” he notes. Another team from the same club is said to have gone to Pudukottai to help the victims.
“We visited more than five villages, and distributed relief material that would support 500 families. But it is the lack of electricity that is affecting people the most,” he points out.
Crediting the EB workers, he says, “For every post, there are 10 to 20 workers doing work. When I was travelling from Velankanni to Vedaranyam, I saw that all the poles were down, but when I came back, all of these were resurrected. That’s how they had worked sincerely. Without food and other essentials, they have been entirely depending on relief centres for their needs.”
Stating that people are returning to normalcy and do not need anymore material, he says, “The only thing they want is temporary accommodation. As a result, we are in the process of providing light-roof materials that will be used by 150 homes, for which we are collecting data. If they need any further help too, we have asked them to contact us,” he concludes.
Vijaykumar can be reached at 9600070707.