I am just back from ten days in Muttom, a fishing village in southern India, that is seriously affected by the Boxing Day Tsunami. I stayed with Sister Selvi, her brother Nazarene and their large extended family. It was a rich and emotionally challenging time and I came back determined to see how I might be able to help the people of Muttom. Many people have lost everything: houses, boats, nets, clothes, possessions. 68 people lost family members. The families worst affected are living in brown corrugated iron camps erected by the Government. Unbearably hot when the temperature is 36 C and rising.
Others lost their only means of earning a living. Boats, nets, motors were lost or ruined by the 30 foot wave which swept over the seashore leaving children clinging disastrously to power cables, stranded on roofs and one woman told of finding herself naked in a tree. A truly terrible humiliation for an Indian lady. When I arrived six weeks after the Tsunami there was no fishing, no trading, no money and plenty of desperation and I heard many arguments and fights in the narrow streets. Bored youths, frantic women berating husbands for earning nothing and men folk paralysed by lack of equipment. Women in the camp insisted they didn’t want hand outs but to get back to work.
Early one morning I watched the first boat go out and then a few others found the necessary courage. Fish came in and some semblance of normality emerged. The NGOs gave out supplies and hopelessness receded. I met with leaders in the village to find out what help they might need stressing that I was not at all sure I could raise any money at all. The Government will eventually help to rebuild houses and help with subsidies to replace boats.
So the Muttom Fishermen’s Tsunami Education Society requested a computer and tailoring Centre so that their young people can learn new skills, a day centre for the elderly widows and a kindergarten and play area for the children. They wisely say a few boats would be divisive when the need is so great. They also asked for money for dowries to enable the widows and widowers to remarry.
I am eager to introduce you to the village of Muttom and I do hope we will be able to help the villagers in some way. You are all invited to Selling Village Hall on Friday 15 April at 7.30.I will show pictures, there will be wine and samosas and maybe some discussion about how we as a community might be of service to our brothers and sisters in India. I look forward to seeing you.
For more information email me.
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