Life in Nicobar - Post Tsunami

Tsunami, the Impact

The December 26, 2004 earthquake’s epicenter was 163 kms away from Great Nicobar, the southern most island from the archipelago. Hence it was strongly felt in the entire Andaman & Nicobar group of islands and the seismic intensity was enough to cause lower order damage to many civil constructions. People ran out in panic and those riding cycles and bikes were forced to stop due to strong wobbling effects. The total duration of the shaking has been reported by many to be 600 seconds.

Yet it was the tsunami that was generated by the main Sumatra earthquake that caused most damage to the low lying coastal regions of Nicobar group of islands. The sea rose to about 4.25 m above the high tide line in Great Nicobar. The sea water surged at neatly 700 kms per hour and flattened whatever came in its way. It flooded the villages, breached the shore protection walls, certain sections of the low level roads, impaired some bridge and harbour structures and inundated the vast stretches of the shore line. It broke homes and hearts.

The statistics of severity of human loss does not indicate the level of the tragedy. 3400 people have died or are missing. IAF at Car Nicobar alone lost 116 personnel.

Social and economic infrastructure in these islands were severely damaged. 68 schools were fully damaged, 40 anganwadi centres became non-operational. Most of the health sub-centres were washed away. A total of 84 fair shops and 13 storage godowns were also lost to the surging waves.

The power supply system in all the islands were badly damaged. The 2400 KVA  capacity main power house at Malacca, Car Nicobar was washed away. 85 kms transmission line and 12 distribution transformers were lost. Extensive damage was caused to the power houses, DG sets, T&D systems, transmission towers, power distribution transformers, building etc. in most of the islands.

24 jetties were severly damaged. In Car Nicobar, the approach to the Mus wharf was partly damaged while the Malacca jetty was totally destroyed. In Campbell Bay the approach to the jetty collapsed completely. The jetties at Chowra, Teressa, Katchal were submerged in water and washed away. Cracks developed in jetties at Kamorta and Nancowry.

Seven shipping vessels were damaged and two vessels sunk in the sweeps of tidal waves. Propellers, hulls, shaft, superstructure etc. were damaged in the above vessels. 38 boats were lost. A forty ton diesel storage tank was uprooted in Car Nicobar.

Road network in most of the affected islands was badly damaged. In some places, the road were washed out while in other cracks developed. The ring road which passes through the entire island of Car Nicobar was completely sunk in and are irretrievable. In Great Nicobar, the main trunk road connecting Indira Point became unserviceable thereby disconnecting all villages which were situated across it.

There was extensive damage in the water supply network. Wells in the flat lands were flooded with seawater. IAF wells which were catering around 1700 people got saline. All most whole water supply network became non-operational barring the area near the administrative headquarters in Car Nicobar.

As a result of the killer tsunami, the econmy of these islands were severly affected. The Business community suffered losses by way of damages to stock, loss of revenue, and losses to property and infrastructure particularly in Great Nicobars. The whole market at Campbell Bay was flooded with water. The whole shopping complex in IAF station was gutted down. Malacca in Car Nicobar was the main commercial area. However, it has been minimized to nothing more than a ghost town after the tsunami. Small shopkeepers were worst hit. Though this was not an industrialized area, some 65 small scale industries were registered here. Out of which, 42 were completely damaged and 5 were partially damaged aggregating total capital loss of around 50 lakhs.

About 3950 hectares of paddy and 6660 hectares of plantation crop area have been affected by the ingress of sea water due to tsunami. More damaging than immediate loss was the increased salinity of soil. As per Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal major problems caused by tsunami water are: inu8ndation causing anoxia, increase in soil salinity, enhanced dissolution of iron, manganese and aluminum. Large tract of land is permanently submerged and large areas are water logged due to subduction of land. The fishermen have suffered enormously due to loss of boats, fishing nets and loss of live. It is estimated that 938 boats have been fully damaged  while 765 partially damaged in tsunami. Total loss of livestock has been estimated to be 157577.

More than numbers what was more important is the economic potential which these livestock possessed. Besides, central tribal co-operative societies, which are the backbone of the local economy suffered badly. EHL of Car Nicobar alone suffered by around Rs. 6 crores.

The earthquake and the resulting tsunami had a severe impact on houses in the islands. The southern islands of the archipelago, mainly Chowra, Teressa, Bompooka, Katchal, Kamorta, Nancowrie and Trinket (Nancowrie group of islands), Campbell Bay were the worst affected. About 10,000 families lost their houses. Total number of 16,603 houses were damaged. These 10,000 households could not return to the site of their original dwellings as they were in low lying areas and certain areas inundated in water on permanent basis. Original sites being on coastal belt became potentially risky from high tide or high winds hazards.

Geological activity was so intense that these islands have shifted horizontally as well as vertically. As per CESS, Trivandrum the Car Nicobar islands got whipped by 6.25 mtrs south west and Great Nicobar by 4.63 mtrs in same direction. Most of islands have gone down vertically by varying degrees. This can be seen visually as high tide line has got inland roughly by 100-150 mtrs.

Intense geological activity completely broke down the underground drainage pattern. As per report of Central Ground Water Board, Eastern Region, the equilibrium boundary between saline and fresh water was broken at many place. This has increased the drinking water vulnerability of these islands.  

Studies to assess the loss of flora and fauna are still on. However, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun has reported that comparision of IRS-1C LISS III data of January 4, 2005 with old information of the year 1999 reveals that there hs been a considerable loss to coastal lands and a vast chunk of mangroves and the littoral forests have been submerged in water and at places coastal sands have been developed.

Out of the total area of Nancowry group of islands, 15.64% of the area has undergone major changes. Nearly 6.8% of the area is submerged and 8.9% of area has been damaged. Maximum change (more than 42%) has been observed in Trinket island. More than 23% of Katchal and 9% Kamorta & Nancowry and Teressa group have gone in to major change. While analyzing the loss it was observed that 94.34% of Mangroves in Katchal island  and 51.49% in Trinket island, 42.88% in Kamorta & Nancowry islands have been submerged in to deep water. In adition to Mangroves more than 62% of littoral forests in Katchal island have been submerged in to deep water (27.11%) or converted into sandy area (35.42%). It is also observed that 12.92% of evergreen forest in Trinket, 5.36% in Teressa/ Chowra groups, 3% In Tillangchong have suffered severe to moderate damage,.

Unprecedented level of human loss had and would continue to have strong bearing on psychological well being of survivors. Broken families have increased the vulnerability of survivors particularly children and women. In this regard, the non-tribal population is more at edge as they do not have a strong traditional social security net like tribal society.

RESPONSE

As soon as  the earthquake and tsunami struck the islands on 26th December 2004, a meeting of UT level Disaster Management Committee under the chairmanship of Lt. Governor was held. A control room was  setup at Port Blair in the Office of the Deputy Commissioner to coordinate search, evacuation and relief related activities. All the Secretaries to the Administration functioned from there to facilitate better coordination between departments.

Senior Administrative Officers were deputed to all the affected islands to coordinate relief and rescue operations. Deputy Resident Commissioners of Kolkata and Chennai were designated as Special Relief Officers for the purpose of coordinating procurement and dispatch of relief materials from Kolkata and Chennai through ships, airlines and Air Force couriers.

The ships sailed from Port Blair to Southern Group of islands for evacuating people to Port Blair. About 14,000 people were evacuated to Port Blair and 5700 people to the mainland. People from Chowra and Bambooka were evacuated to Teressa island; inhabitants from Kondul, Pillomillow and Little Nicobar were evacuated to Campbell Bay. And residents from Trinket islands were evacuated to Kamorta.

The evacuated people were taken to the safer places away from the shore and on higher grounds. The relief camps were setup for these people in different islands. At each of the camps, one person was elected as the Camp-in-charge to oversee overall coordination and control in the camp. The Camp-in-charge was assisted by an Assistant In-charge and by seven designated assistants, each dealing with a specific area like sanitation, health, counseling, food, power etc.

The people in relief camps were provided all essential edible and non-edible items. Initially, the camps were set up in schools or community buildings. In places where buildings were destroyed, the camps were set up in water proof tents that were shipped from the mainland.

Simultaneously, the Administration was engaged in recovering the dead bodies, which were lying in the debris or left behind once the tsunami waves had receded. All cases of dead and missing were meticulously recorded, lists published, and next of kin identified through local enquiry.

            The VSAT communication system was restored within 24 hours of the disaster. HAM Radio services were utilized from the representative of National Institute of Amateur Radio. Ten representatives from Gujarat Institute of Amateur radio also joined to augment the communication network. The satellite phones were also flown in from the mainland and sent to different islands.

The Army, Navy and Coast Guard actively participated in the search and rescue operations of the Administration. Subsequently contingents from other Central Paramilitary Forces also joined the effort. More than 2500 personnel of Andaman & Nicobar Police, Indian Reserve Battalion, Military and Paramilitary Forces assisted the Administration in relief efforts.

About 2000 MT of relief material was transported by IL76, AN 32 and MI 8 carriers of Indian Air Force. During the operations, Indian Air Force flew approximately 1500 sorties. To have proper coordination between the Administration and the defence forces, the Govt. of India constituted Integrated Relief Command (IRC) under the chairmanship of Lt. Governor.

As soon as the relief camps were set up, the affected families were provided essential items such as rice, sugar, pulses, flour, mosquito nets etc. Bicycles are the chief means of transportation for islanders. It was, therefore, decided to distribute bicycles to the affected families.

After the devastating earthquake followed by the tsunami, most of health infrastructure was washed away. The immediate task before the Health department was to restore the health services and prevent spread of any epidemic. PHCs that were washed away at Teressa and Katchal were revived in the available nearby buildings.

Adequate quantity of essential medicines, life saving drugs, reagents, consumable including anti-malarial and anti-diarrheal drugs and instruments were shipped or air dropped to all affected islands.

Measles immunization along with Vitamin-A supplementation was administered to all children aged 6 months to 5 years totaling 3,574.

General sanitation measures were instituted, including disinfection, cleanliness, personal hygiene and use of latrines. A total of 240 pit latrines were constructed at Car Nicobar, and several trench latrines put in place in Campbell Bay. In intermediate shelters, the task of constructing toilets has been taken up by UNICEF.

Mosquito control measures, including application of larvicide, indoor residual spray and thermal fogging of insecticides, were undertaken on a war footing. Personal protection measures were instituted; adequate number of insecticide treated bed nets were distributed. All action were taken to minimize fly breeding. People were advised to practice high standard of sanitation and personal hygiene.

For preventing Water- borne diseases, safe water sources identified, and a supply chain evolved. Water purification measures were taken and provision of safe drinking water ensured. Halogen tablets are distributed at every point of care, relief camp and village. Water quality was regularly monitored using chlorinometer for measuring chlorine at point of consumption.

ORS depots were established at various camps and are actively distributed to all diarrhoea cases for preventing dehydration. Various national and international agencies supported the administration in effectively tackling the challenge of providing medical and public health services.

Many NGOs such as Baratiya Jain Sangathana,SEVAC, OXFAM, Seva Barati and Action Aid international India assisted the islanders providing health services.

A term of 15 Yoga instructors from swami Vivekanannd Yoga Anusanthan Sansthaha of Bangalore conducted courses on yoga in relief camps spread over various islands overcoming trauma and stress.

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Delhi established a comprehensive network for epidemiological surveillance in the effected areas on a continuous basis, with a central unit at Port Blair and six mobile peripheral teams functioning at Campbell Bay, Katchal, Nancowry, Teressa AND Car Nicobar to have an overall check on the water borne/vector borne diseases. The Laboratory at the GB Pant Hospital has been strengthen to provide rapid laboratory surveillance.

The revival of education was given top priority. Classes for X and XII were started from January 3, 2005. 520 students were evacuated from the southern group of islands to Port Blair accommodated in hostels. Free boarding, lodging, food etc. were provided. Other classes were started from January 24, 2005, either in school buildings or in tents. The children living in relief camps were given admission in nearby schools and were provided transports.

The students were provided study materials including textbooks worth Rs. 27 lakhs free free of cost to the Tsunami Affected students. Uniforms were also provided to the Affected students. Voluntary youths engaged educational works were designated as Educational Assistant and were scale as per their qualification. In Katchan, local youth were engaged for education.

INDIAN AIR FORCE: WINGS OF HOPE

Nicobars was fortunate to have Indian Air Force base at Car Nicobar. Despite the fact of that IAF lost 116 personnel and its infrastructure severely damaged, it rose upto occasion and provided yeomen services and battered people of Nicobar. Earthquake had caused many cracks in runway but IAF technician enable first landing on 26th December itself. Beside the Helicopters of 122 HF, MI-17s and MI-8s from the main land were augmented to carry out supply drops and rescue works. A total about 500 sorties were flown and 300 tons of relief was air landed and about 900 people were transported. The fixed wing effort consisting of AN- 32 and IL-76 aircraft carried out 300 sorties of airlanded about 680 tons of loaded and airlifted 9000 passengers.Wg Cdr Mohan Gupta evacuated the “Queen” of Nancowry with her family members from Kardip helipad to Car Nicobar. Sqn Ldr SP Singh evacuated 17 marooned people near Katchal Island. The live winching was carried out successfully which included four elderly tribals and one person with head injuries. He flew a maximum of 65 hours in 102 sorties. Heavy loads belonging to BSNL like dish antenna  and communication equipments was carried to remote location that communications could be established at these places at the earliest. Heavy generators sets and ambulance/gypsies were also transports to remote areas. Recently one MI-8 was tasked to retrieve the statue of Ms Indira Gandhi which been washed away in the Tsunami. The statue was located in the wooded  areas near Indira Point and was under slung and brought to Campbell Bay.

POLICE AND PARA MILITARY FORCE: A MARCH OF COURAGE

The Police Headquarters based in Car Nicobar, had played role in providing immediate relief and restoration to the effected areas. Despite having limited facilities and having lost approximately 20 personnel to the tragedy, the role of department has highly commendable.

One of the major resources provided by the department was the communication infrastructure. Police communication played a key role in relief and rescue operation as this was the only available mode of communication in the initials stages of management. All India connectivity through POLNET at Nancowry, Campbell Bay and Car Nicobar and the Inter Island Connectivity by the VHF were the primary means of relaying massages as the administration telephone network was severely damaged.

Approximately 1000 CPMF personnel including local police were deployed for rescue, relief and rehabilitation. Some of the major challenges faced by them included rescue operation, disposal of dead bodies, providing security for relief material and camps and assistimg in the construction of temporary shelters.

Personnel were involved in the distribution of relief materials, road clearance which was done in collaboration with the IRBn, distribution of water to the camps, temporary shelters, sea vessels and also combining of a database on missing persons.

SHIPPING: the pangs of determination

Shipping services played a stellar role. Despite near collapse of shipping infrastructure, shipping personnel rose to the occasion.

The vessel MV Long Island evacuated 370 tribals from Pilomillow, Bambooka, and Teressa & Katchal and shifted them to the Nancowry Island. MV Katchal evacuated 486 marooned tribals from Kondul, Pilomillow. Pilopanja, Pilobhabi, Macachav, Peyong and Pilopohuva, at Campbell Bay. MV Baratang and MV Kamorta, rescued passengers thrice in number then its carrying capacity. The ambulance vessels MV Shompen sailed for Southern Groups to search for survivors and to help in disposal of the dead bodies of victims. MV Shompen arrived at Emfok, North West of little Nicobar, on 10/01/2005 and rescued three men and a women, who were marooned for 14 days. Later from Pilomillow, three women, two small boys, one girl & one infant were rescued. The Tsunami victims were brought to safer places free of cost from the affected island and also provided with free foods on board the vessel, before shifting. After completion of relief and rescue operation the next priority was transportations of equipments including heavy lifts and building materials including vehicles, cranes, forklift and earth moving equipment. The vessel MV Chowra, MV Sentinel & TSS Yerewa were deployed frequently to SGI to carry people and materials. The challenging task of offloading heavy lifts without landing facilities has been handled by stationing of pontoons in the open sea under very rough conditions.

MV Pilokunji was deployed to Nancowry for rehabilitation work due to the disruption of jetties. The bigger vessels like MV Nancowry, MV Swaraj Dweep & MV Harshavardhana were berthed at Nancowry for the first time in history of shipping in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The vessels MV Chouldari, MV Wandoor,MV Kamorta are deployed in Southern Group of Islands for maintaining connectivity between the islands.

To giving connectivity by sea to islands like Chowra, Teressa, Katchal etc. Directorate of Shipping Services have positioned nine small –mechanized dinghies and six boats by  hiring from private operators. For movement of relief materials and building materials various sizes of pontoon of positioned in various islands in Southern Nicobar. Tug belonging to DSS is also positioned in Nancowry group of islands for towing of pontoons loaded with relief construction materials.

CIVIL SOCIETY RESPONSE

Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF)

RGF did not focus so much on relief work as on long-term rehabilitation programmes. Their focus has been on rebuilding lives with dignity and rebuilding communities.

On child support RGF responded with traditional concern and promptness. It undertook to look after their health and nutrition requirements and to ensure that the children receive schooling upto the senior secondary level. Apart from this, the process of identifying orphans were done in the islands of Car Nicobar, Campbell Bay, Kamorta, Katchal, Nancowry and Teressa. The non-tribal orphans placed in orphanages by the local administration. The tribal communities however, were not  willing to see their children go into orphanages.  

The Foundation focused its programme on tribal children living in the ‘tuhet’. A total of 140 tribal children had been identified for support.

Island-wise break-up of support in Nicobar islands

A need for training in psychosocial counselling was felt for the people who survived the disaster. A psychosocial outreach programme was designed and developed so as plans to developed so as  to reach the larger community with counselling and therapeutic skills. RGF drew up plans to develop a core group of Counselling Specialists (Leas Specialists) who are doctors, teachers and counsellors by profession and who in turn would train and supervise Community level Counsellors (site leaders), basically ICDS workers, ANMs, teachers, community leaders over a period of one year. This is to make psychosocial care is accessible and available to community and at the remotest part of the islands.

Briefly, the programme with the main component of training was planned to be carried out in phases. The first phase would involve the training of the lead specialists followed by identification and training of the first batch of site leaders from the islands. The symptoms of trauma and counselling techniques comprised the training content. Methodology was mostly experimental with some theoretical learning. The two phases of the programme have been completed. In the first phase, 14 Lead Specialist have been trained. At present, the Lead Specialists are involved in identifying and training Site Leaders from Nicobar group of islands. A batch of 69 Site Leaders consisting of teachers, health workers and ICDS workers has already been trained from 7th to 9th October 2005.

A work plan has been developed both for the Lead Specialists and the Site Leaders. The Site Leaders will do 6 hours of counselling per week in their institutions and communities, dividing it into 4 individual counselling and 2 group counselling.  They will prepare reports on the cases and indicate the progress/ developments to the Lead Specialist. The Lead Specialists will deal with individual cases of counselling referred to them by the Site Leaders. They will follow up on the Site Leaders and will also provide refresher training to them.

A Capacity building programme through training in Food Processing Andaman & Nicobar was initiated. There is an Extension Centre for Food Processing (ECFP) in Diglipur at Andaman & Nicobar islands, under the Directorate of Industries, which was set up basically to train local unemployed youths in food technology to generate employment. The Andaman & Nicobar Administration and the Directorate of Industries are very keen that this Unit is brought to use and made to fulfill the purpose for which it was set up. They are willing to entrust Unnathi, a local NGO to undertake the task of training with RGF support.

Under this programme, women from A & N islands will be trained in food processing using the facilities at the ECFP. Trainees will be selected from the already formed women’s groups and will be given training on select food processing and business skills, i.e., fruit and vegetable processing, jam and jelly making, bakery products, fish and prawn products, papad making, aerated drinks, canning and packaging.

The trainees will be helped and counselled to set up business [individual or group] or to find suitable employment. The would entail counselling the individual to obtain loan for small business or forming the groups into the federations and establishes them as business units with financial support from the Bank/ Cooperatives or guiding the trainees of the possible employment sources and help them in placement.

UNICEF

UNICEF and its network of partner are leading the international response to the tsunami in three key areas: water and sanitation, child [protection and education.

Thirty six thousand displaced people reached with basic sanitation for intermediate shelter, Achieved through construction of over 4,000 toilets in five remote island in the Nicobar district. To help control malaria, they have also supported laboratory technician training and medical officer reinforcement training and provided 20,000 long lasting impregnated bed nets and 40,000 mosquito skin repellents. UNICEF India had provided direct support to construct 3,067 toilets and indirect support for an additional 2,550 toilets (technical support was provide to the Andaman Public Works Department and NGO’s such as OXFAM and Caritas).

To improve the availability of safe drinking water, they have provided four water tankers in the intermediate shelters. Rooftop rain water harvesting, a technology not previously used in the Andaman and Nicobar, was introduced to provide cost-effective, localized, sustainable solutions for drinking water supply and to this end they have supplied over1,200 rain water harvesting units.

They have introduced ‘Quality Package Education’ (QPE) in 66 destroyed  schools in the Nicobar, which provides a secure and stimulating environment for school children and promotes child- friendly initiatives in four areas: the learning process, teachers training, school and classroom environment and community participation. UNICEF has also provided seating materials to all the schools.

ActionAid

ActionAid activated its relief work in the islands since the beginning of January and by the mid of the month it started sending relief supplies to far flung places in Nicobar islands. In Car Nicobar, ActionAid provided 2390 Household kits each comprising 75 basic items of daily use. 2955 pair of spectacles were also given to the persons who had lost it to tsunami. The eye-check up and distribution was done in partnership with GB Pant Hospital, Port Blair.
 

ActionAid is also contributing in providing 60 fishing boats to the fisherfolk families in Car Nicobar, as part of Rajiv Gandhi Rehabilitation Programme. The community has been involved in every decision – making stage – right from finalizing the design, manufacturing and delivery mechanism of the boats.

As part of a collaborative Child Rights Study in all the tsunami affected islands, the organization identified 557 orphan and single parent children in Nicobar group of islands. The study reviewed the post-tsunami status of children with the perspective of child rights and protection.

In Car Nicobar, ActionAid also supported 35 community people of Arong in restoring two tsunami-wrecked graveyards, which are of immense cultural significance for the entire community in the island. The organization is also taking up the Disaster Preparedness (DP) work in a systematic way. The environment building for initiating the Participatory Vulnerability Analysis (PVA) at the community level has begun. ActionAid is also regularly interacting with the Nicobar administration to have a comprehensive DP programme in collaboration with the administration and other organizations at different levels. The concentrated efforts to take the initiative forward would be done in 2006.

Special programmes ( Drawing, Easay and speech competition ) for  school going children at various levels ( Primary, Middle, Secondary and Senior secondary School Level ) under boys as well as girls category were organized as Tsunami week observation ( From 19th – 21st Dec,2005 ) at Car Nicobar in due collaboration with the Tribal council and Nicobar administration. Over 256 children across all the schools were participated to make the event successful. It was possible to spot out the thought processes among the children about the pre and Post-Tsunami impact in a more lucid way.

In the coming year, ActionAid would also take up community health and empowerment programme in Car Nicobar and need based interventions would be initiated in other islands of Nicobar district as well.

CARE-India

Care-India assisted in many of the relief, rescue and restoration operations. They had provided 18 boats to the government for 5 tribal councils in the Nancowrie group of islands for inter-island communication between seven islands along with 50 fishing net to the tribal fisher folk inhabiting the island.

Care has constructed platforms for schools which were running in tent provided by UNICEF in Car Nicobar and Nancowrie Group. A total of 31 platforms were completed in Car Nicobar through cash for work and 93 in Nancowrie island. They are also committed to providing 10000 benches and desks for different schools along with 1000 ceiling fans which have been handed over to the Department of Education for different schools of the Nicobar District. They have also given 13000 raincoats for school going children of the island.

As part of institutional development, they have begun project SANJOG (Support Action in Nutrition Sustenance and Joyful Learning ) in collaboration with the Department of Social welfare CARE has collaborated with Department of Industries of livelihood Skill building training program. Four livelihood Skill building training programs have already been completed in Car Nicobar, Nancowrie group of island and Campbell Bay.

Oxfam

Oxfam is now responding in 12 camps in Great Nicobar (Campbell Bay), and 31 Villages in Nancowrie group of 7 of islands in Central Nicobar.

76 more boats are being given out to this island community. Forteen Fisher folk cooperative societies have been formed in this chain of islands and Oxfam supporting them to form market linkages by providing them with deep freezer Boxes etc. They have also built to prefabricated Structure in these islands, which will be used as office quarters and at the end of the project tenure, Would be given to the community. In consultation with the community Oxfam has also put up a prototype of Permanent shelter in Kamorta. In collaboration in public Works Department of the island Oxfam has installed two T-11 tanks in Katchal.

As part of its health development Oxfam provided Health Kids and constructed 350 toilets and 600 washrooms at various intermediate shelter sites in the island. Oxfam has also put up three T-11 tanks for distributing water. Forty Five health workers with 20 trained as per international standards- in these islands for disseminating health awareness amongst the residents of the intermediate shelter.

CASA

CASA has helped in initialing various programs for restoring the livelihood of the habitants of the Nicobar Islands. They are in the process of distributing 35 boats to fisher folks and constructing seven schools: three primary, three middle and one senior school in the Nancowrie group of islands. They will also be constructing 120 houses in Car Nicobar.

Ten tsunami centres will be constructed which can be used as multi purpose halls. They are also in the process of building 15th birth house to be used as delivery rooms. They have built a model house in Car Nicobar.

Butterflies

Butterflies with the support of save The children in presently carrying out its child protection programme’in Car Nicobar Nancowry group of islands and Great Nicobar island. They running seven activity centres in Car Nicobar, 10 in Nancowry islands and 12 in Great Nicobar islands. They have also developed their own children’s newspapers in which they report on local issues, paint write poem etc and sent their wall newspapers to Port Blair office where the mater is compiled and the “ Andaman & Nicobar Children’s Times” is published.

Butterflies has formulated its long term plants for its ‘Child protection programme’ as well as livelihood programmes in the Nicobar district. It intends to work closely with the Nicobar administration, Tribal council members of respective islands as well the children and community at large.       

PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS: SURVIVAL STRATEGIES

Megh Rajshakhar, the daughter of an Air Force servicemen proved that in the most improbable situation, courage and valor stand firm. This thirteen years old was swept away along with her parents and 77 No. other people went the Tsunami struck the coast of Car Nicobar. Despite the situation around her, she did not give into fear and terror. Her sense of endurance prodded her to fight against all odds and look for means of survival. She found a wooden door and clung to it to stay afloat. She spent two days floating in the sea with the support of the door. She saw the relief planes a number of times and called out for help, but they could not spot her. Since she had no idea regarding the direction of land, she continued floating helplessly on the waves, until she was washed ashore by a wave. Saving herself from deadly sea snakes, she was able to reach land alive. When she was found she was severely bruised and was walking in a dazed condition on the seashore. She had lost her parents in the disaster and is now taken care of by relatives in the mainland.

Ten year old Kaleeswary, another survivor of the tsunami, narrated the horrifying incidents that occurred on that fateful December morning. Leaving her fear behind, she bravely described how her family had escaped the killer wave. The sight of other buildings collapsing warned her family to leave the shelter of their home and head for protection outside. Hence quick thought and reaction helped in saving the lives of this family. This sense of survival has also helped in saving many lives the world over during the occurrence of earthquakes. Thought still afraid of the ocean, Kaleeswari, says that she loves her home in Car Nicobar and would not like to leave it, but she regrettably adds that her father, a worker in the electricity board, who lost his hand in the tragety, had received a transfer to Port Blair and hence she would be leaving the Island.

Kathleen a residence of Malacca, one of the worst affected areas in Car Nicobar, smilingly showed that even though she had lost her home, she will not please her faith. This 11 year old student of standard eight, recalls having heard loud screams from outside as large cracks formed on the floor giving way to hot spring followed by the tsunami. Despite this, she ran back into her home to get the bike keys and the Bible and repeatedly called on the name of the Lord as she and family ran to safely.

Anuplal a 14 year old student from class nine, lost his grand father to the tsunami, who was at the seashore at the time of the tragedy. He along with the rest of his family were some of the residents of Car Nicobar who had taken to the forest for shelter and protection. most inhabitants oh the islands fled to the forests as they were situated on higher ground. This survival strategy was adopted by most of the tribals of the  Nicobar  group of islands. The tribals were at an advantageous situation as they were accustomed to living of the land. Anuplal, vividly remembers the one month he spent in the forests away from the fearful shores hoping and praying that there would not be a recurrence.

WHY NICOBAR DID NOT CRY

People of these islands can never forget the tsunami, but they have not allowed themselves to get cowed down. Everybody who has visited these islands have been struck with the resilience of people. “How they are able to put up such a smiling face”, has been a recurrent question.

One is not entirely sure of reasons and factors behind this marked enthusiasm for life. Generally bereavement has two components: forced and natural. The natural component results from the longing and love for the deceased person. It is a healthy psychological sublimation process. However, forced component results from the perceived laws of socio-economic well being due to the departure of the earning member. There are certain factors in the Nicobar society which soothers out this forced component. These include:

1.                  The tribal community practice strong joint family system, locally called ‘tuhet’. It is more than a common homestead. People of the same Tuhet even living in separate houses consider themselves as a unified whole. The Tuhet headman takes care of the whole Tuhet. This provides an excellent social safety net, which is strongly seen in the language as the local language does not have any work for ‘widow’ or ‘orphan’. Each individual belongs to community.

2.                  Gender relations are much healthier in the tribal society. Women do not face any structured discrimination in access to social and economic assets. This comforting feature has direct correlation with the well being of women and children. As a consequence even the death of an earning male member does not adversely affect the socio economic potential of the household.

3.                  The tribal economy is mainly biomass based barter system. Most of the consumption needs are fulfilled by nature itself. It is this sense of consumption security reduces the psychological stress due to perceived loss of economic potential of a household. Further the main productive asset (the land) is held at joint family level. The individual land records are not maintained. They are neither with the community nor the administration. Thus an asset position of a family does not have much co-relation with individual male members of the family. The resulting individual independent economic security soothes out forced component of boreament and withdrawal symptoms

4.                  Tribal community is demonetised and does not accumulate assets. Money as such is not valued. As a result, unlike the non-tribal community, psychological distress due to legal constraints in compensation distribution is absent.

5.                  Being a demonetised asset non-accumulating society, tribal society has stronger influence of religion. Thus, they are able to sublimate longing and distress via biblical medium in a more effective fashion.

To restore psychological health and to bring back normalcy among children, restoration of schools was considered to be of utmost importance. Church of North India CNI/ CASA took up task of creating permanent schools. Due to logistical constraints, it was a long duration task, meanwhile value added semi-permanent schools had been created. By 1st December 2005, all such schools in all villages were operational. For quality up gradation, local teachers were sent to Rishey valley in Andhra Pradesh for multi-grade / multi-scale methodology training. Community leaders have adopted the school at Small Lapathy, Car Nicobar as the model school.

Local youths were trained in activities hitherto controlled by non-tribals. Besides providing employment it would remove the demand side of illegal immigration. The industry Department in association with CARE imparted training in fields like vehicle repairing, gas stove repairing etc… Ten SHGs were formed under SGSY. Untill 1st December 2005, the Industry Department in association with CARE and Butterflies has conducted around 83 skill building programmes in this district. As a result of the efforts of Nehru Yuva Kendra and the training programmes, many tribals have opened shop in almost all villages, which was not the case before the tsunami.

During tsunami, it was experienced that coastal plantation serves as best defence against such disasters. Coastline protection drew special attention as the land mass had gone down vertically and new vulnerable areas were exposed to sea water. Forest Department has started coastal defence plantation. Cross section of such defence wall was defence wall was decided to be made up of local endemic species to avoid ecological contamination due to import of external species. Till now, nearly 17 ha. of coastal area has been planted with such bio-defence wall in Car Nicobar only. However, at very vulnerable places like Campbell Bay sea protection wall is planned.

REGENERATION

Restoration essentially is a stabilizing and enabling task. It is the regeneration of economy that is the central task. Pre-tsunami, these islands basically had coconut based demonized economy. During tsunami large tract of plantation were damaged, which potentially could have long term impact on the economic security of these islands.

Realizing the importance of coconut economy, massive coconut plantation drive was initiated under Rajiv Gandhi rehabilitation package. Nearly 1490  hectares have been replanted with coconut crops. To de-risk economy, diversification into vegetable, spices, root crops, banana and cashew is being attempted. Looking at the fertility of soil and geo-climatic conditions, M.S.Swami Nathan foundation has proposed that these islands can be promoted as ‘organic islands’.

Keeping this approach in mind, no chemical fertilizer is being used in agriculture restoration process. Once diversified, these islands would need source of irrigation particularly in dry months. For this purpose, harnessing of surface water has been given full consideration. Nearly 250 check dams and ponds are planned in the district. Distribution of pump sets and farm implements are planned in the next phase.

Fishing has been a mass but a subsistence level activity in these islands. Large number of fishermen died and extensive damage occurred to private fishing gears of tribals. Besides, replenishing the fishing gears of fishermen, efforts are being to modernize fishing to conduct it more as an economic activity. In collaboration with CASA and ActionAid mechanized fishing boats are being provided to the community. Already seven deep freezing facilities have been created in these islands.

As outsiders are not allowed to trade in these tribal area, cooperatives are central to economy of these islands. Cooperatives both at primary and central level have suffered heavy losses due to the tsunami. Various amounts of compensation have been sanctioned for their recovery. To enhance the economic viability of these cooperative, they are encouraged to diversify. EHL in Car Nicobar has already diversified successfully in shipping and construction works.