Introduction – Since the time from Dec.2004 Tsunami that wrecked havoc across many parts of Asia including the east coast of India, the rebuilding effort has come a long way and many lessons have been learnt.

Reach – DPG has provided relief and rehabilitation services not only to affected fishermen, who so far have received the vast majority of NGO support, but also to few farmers and Dalit communities, who ran the risk of being ignored in the rehabilitation effort. DPG’s support has taken the form of revival of livelihood activities, motivation for affected communities to form SHG’s provision of micro finance to those SHGs, organizing of training courses, construction of permanent shelters through the shelter Development programme and land-based activities and horticultural support and livestock. Through these interventions, in 2006-07, DPG and its staff of 23 based in Nagapattinam and Tutucorin districts have provided support to 837 families across the 6 villages Now that farmers and fishermen in the affected areas have been able to return to their pre Tsunami activities DPG’s efforts in 2006-07 were concentrated primarily on construction of permanent housing and strengthening of SHGs.

Revival – As a direct result of access to free microfinance facilities, about 604 families earlier were able to revive their economy and presently many SHG members have been able to finance new business such as provision shops, tailoring business or telephone services, to purchase new boats or nets and to cover domestic expenses. Many SHG members report that their financial situation is better now that it had been prior to the Tsunami, Thanks to the efforts and support of DPG and its microcredit facilities.

Shelter – In 2006-07, DPG handed over 604 new homes as part of the shelter Development Programme, bringing the total to 72% of affected families who now have permanent housing in our before the completion of the year 2007. Those families who have already moved in to their DPG homes are happy with the standard of the housing, which was designed in consultation with the local communities and lies not more than 250meters from the original site.

Lessons learnt – It is time that all the stakeholders ponder over what went wrong in their strategic planning, which failed to put the people back in to action. In the massive relief and rehabilitation services of the scale currently being undertaken by different players (other NGOs) thirty months is a fairly reasonable time to assess the overall impacts made on the lives of the people. While millions and millions of public funds and charity (cold) money was spent, the services have not witnessed their societal impacts equivalent to the cost.

What went wrong with the various stages of relief and rehabilitation work is a good topic to be pondered upon / discussed by all concerned. Most of the various players seem to be unrealistic in decision-making, co-ordination and networking and with each one trying to do things in a hurry, to prove their capabilities, duplicating things and out-smarting the other NGOs if not belittling their work.

DPG has learnt many lessons from its efforts in the Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation project. In particular, we have realized the importance of anchoring future relief and rehabilitation efforts into a long-term development programme which focuses on improved community governance at the local level, equitable access to natural resources and sustainable use of the same, creating and environment that supports restoration of sustainable livelihood, gender balance in all initiatives and growth of small-and medium-sized businesses.

Conclusion - The target families are happy that DPG has constructed a quality house for each of them measuring 416 – 456 sq.ft. The families have started new lives in their new homes and few families have also erected additional structures to meet their larger needs. DPG is glad that it could play an important role in reviving the lives of Tsunami victims and is happy with the smooth working out of the public private partnership which aided DPG in building permanent shelters for the Tsunami victims.

The undersigned records his gratitude to the Almighty for granting favour in the eyes and hearts of various donors for generous grants especially for DPD’s operation at Mapillaioorani. Our Almighty Lord guided us as our hope was fixed on Him alone. He not only granted what we had asked for but even granted more than we needed, thus allowing our cup to overflow with funds, enabling us to set aside the excess amount to take up additional shelters. Indeed, blessed are those who put their trust on the Lord!