Hope Restored

We are doing short term and long term relief work here, including rebuilding homes that were destroyed, repairing homes that were damaged, setting up community kitchens, medical centers, distribution centers, etc. Further we are building shops for those women/girls who have been handicapped by the tsunami and who have lost all male members of their families (and who therefore have no way to make a living). We are also taking part in repairing boats that were damaged and will replace the boats that were lost. Once the boats are repaired/purchased, we will purchase new fishing nets for the fisherman.

We are also creating gardens with grass, plants, flowers and trees in the new housing areas, so that there is greenery and beauty for the local people. Further, we are creating a playground for the local children.

We have also decided to open an orphanage here for any children who have been orphaned by the tragedy (or by any other tragic circumstances), and we will also take any children who want to come back to Rishikesh to join the Parmarth Gurukul.

Our aim is that everyone should be back on their feet and back to work within 15 days.

Rather than rebuild on accident prone land on the coast, we are building 1000 new houses in complexes on land given by the government.

NEW HOMES:

The coast line used to be lined with fisherman's thatched roof huts.

Rather than rebuild on accident prone land on the coast, we are building 1000 new houses in complexes on land given by the government.

The land where we are building a new housing complex.

Nearly 100 local laborers are working to erect these first 200 new homes within 2-3 days.

Even though the thatched huts are not finished yet, people have already started moving in. After these first 200 are finished, we will continue building on other pieces of land given by the government. A total of 1000 homes will be constructed.

The first 100 homes are ready!

COMMUNITY CENTERS AND MEDICAL RELIEF:

We have also established 5 community centers which serve as kitchens, giving hot meals 3 times a day and also as medical centers, staffed by a team of professional doctors. We are expanding to 7 centers within one or two days.

All children are provided with milk at the community kitchens.

Project Hope volunteers prepare milk; doctors distribute medicines at the relief centers.

Villagers line up for medicines and supplies at Project Hope headquarters.

EYE CAMP AND CATARACT OPERATION

On the 9 January, a special eye camp and cataract operation camp was organized for the local people. Eye doctors came in from nearby cities to perform testing, diagnosis and cataract operation. Furthers, glasses were distributed to those who needed it.

Villagers line up for the free eye camp.
Together with the doctors Pujya Swamiji
and Vivek Oberoi apply drops into
the eyes of an ailing woman.

SHOPS:

A woman approached us on the first day and she had lost her husband and had no way of making ends meet. She requested us to provide her with a shop that she could own and manage in order to make a living. So, we built her the provision store below. Within 1-2 days the store will be stocked with provisions (provided by us in cooperation with the local government).

Further, 40 shops are being built for all those who lost their shops in the tsunami and who want to stand on their own feet. No request for a shop is turned down.

Pujya Swamiji is in meetings all day with local volunteers, government officials, architects, gardeners, contractors, etc. planning the rebuilding of the village.

RUNNING WATER:

We also have installed water tanks in various locations, so that the villagers can have fresh, safe water for drinking.

IMPACT ON THE VILLAGERS:

The faces of the children and the village people have become filled with light and hope.

Our volunteers bring joy to the local people.

Pujya Swamiji and volunteers give love
and hope to the children; our volunteers
meet with and give love to local
villagers and children.

Our volunteers comfort local people; Pujya Swamiji and Vivek oversee the repair of boat engines.

In addition to the rehabilitation of the physical constructs of the village, we also want to work for the restoration of the emotional wellbeing of the villagers. Their faith and hope have been shattered by this tragedy. In fact, we came to know that the temple was remaining closed as the people said they were “angry with God.”

Therefore, we feel that it is vitally important for the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of the community for their faith to be restored and for them to move forward with their lives. The tsunami took the lives of many, but now hopelessness and despair are taking the lives of those who escaped the waves.

In order to help the community move forward and to bring a sense of completion to the tragedy, we have done the following:

1. On the 6 January, in the morning, puja was re-started in the temples. Since the tsunami the people had lost faith and hope. Therefore, they had stopped performing puja and the temples had been closed. However, we inspired them and encouraged them to let their faith be restored. We began the morning with puja in the temple.

2. We organized tarpan puja on the 10th January which was the 16th day after the tsunami. On this day, families of Devanampattnam gathered together on the beach and performed this very important tarpan puja for peace for the departed souls.

Along with the tarpan puja we organized a special, sacred "sea puja". The sea is like the mother of the fisherman, for she provides them with life and livelihood. However, since the tsunami they have viewed the sea as the enemy. Therefore, we organized sea puja and aarti to re-instill faith in them.