| Post-Tsunami Work by TARA Mamta Bhatia mbhatia@devalt.org District Nagapattinam of Tamil Nadu situated at the far end of Bay of Bengal is one of the worst affected areas during the Tsunami devastation. Out of the total death toll of 10,273 in India, 4,234 deaths have been reported here, roughly 40% comprising of infants Mission Hope A joint effort of TARA-POWER-COCA COLA, termed Mission Hope, is about enabling sustainable livelihood initiatives comprising the following steps: Recognition of the relevant technology and financing of the Livelihood Package. Commissioning of machines and relevant technology transfer, along with training. Skill up gradation, hand holding and marketing linkages guidance.
TARA Initiative TARA joined hands with Periyar Organisation for Women Empowerment and Renaissance (POWER), Thanjavaur, for setting up Building Material Enterprises for production of Micro Concrete Roofing Tiles, Walling Materials and Paving Blocks. All the necessary equipment has been provided by TARA along with on-the-job training to women groups and guidance about Marketing Linkages. The community organisation has been undertaken by POWER.
Success so Far The first set of four construction production systems have been commissioned by providing training to a composite Weaving on Handlooms Two weavers have been trained in a training programme conducted at Delhi. TARA Handlooms have been supplied to Akrepete and these trained weavers are providing training to a group of 20 people there. Paper Products A training programme is on at Akrepete to train 20 women SHG in converting Tara paper into paper products, right from basic products to design concepts. This has been funded by the Development Commissioner Handicrafts Office, New Delhi.
Looking Forward . Thus continues the saga of the Post Tsunami TARA Initiative starting from Technology Transfer to Marketing Linkages, to Livelihood Rehabilitation TARA marches ahead
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and children. The tragedy pushed the local fisher folk (averaging Rs.10,000 per family per day, prior to the tragedy) below the poverty line, bringing to halt the entire fishing trade - the only mode of livelihood. Relief came from all quarters and in all forms. But their need went beyond the traditional ways of earning their livelihoods, a need to revive the glory of the past. Nearly 60 per cent of men suffered from the fear psychosis of the sea, and the demand for fish from the fishing hub of India went down drastically. The need of the hour was to introduce new skills, new technologies with marketing linkages so that new sets of enterprises could be set up on a sustainable basis. Hence started Mission Hope, a mission with the promise and hope for a better tomorrow, with the focus group being Women SHGs, supported by the Collectorate of Nagapattinam and the DRDA. 
