Flood Relief: Rebuild homes-Cuddalore-Vilupuram

It was indeed a massive devastation in Cuddalore District when torrential rains during October and November 2015 inundated all parts of Cuddalore District and pulled down huts made of coconut leaves and killed many goats and cows. The floods came in December 2015 by destroying the crops in agriculture fields and led to terrible poverty among the majority of people. Because the focus was more on Chennai floods of December 1 and 2, 2015, media attention did not cover Cuddalore flood problems. VOICE Trust took up their case with GlobalGiving and appealed for help from friends under Project Number 22674. The priority was for the reconstruction of houses. But, the help from friends through GlobalGiving could only be used for emergency relief, livelihood projects and educational supports. Thanks to helping from friends through GlobalGiving, immediate household needs were provided for families with cooking vessels, kerosine stove, buckets, mugs, mosquito nets, rice, groceries, cooking oil, first aid medicines etc., Since this project had housing as the main objective, tarpaulin sheets were provided for raising temporary shelters with pipe or bamboo poles.

Many families covered the 4 sides with sarees and blankets which could be seen by Kavita and Elizabeth when they visited Cuddalore Food areas in Cuddalore Next important activity under this project was giving of goats to 100 widows and women headed families for strengthening their livelihoods. These 100 women showed proudly the goats purchased with help from GlobalGiving. They also took Kavita and Elizabeth to their houses and showed them vermi compost pits, Azolla algae drums, and country chicken rearing. This is how they have developed their lives after the huge flood fury faced by them at the end of 2015.

Another big contribution from Project Number 22674 is educational supports provided for school children in flood-affected areas of Cuddalore District. Note Books with the emblem of GlobalGiving and VOICE Trust were distributed to 300 school children with help from friends through GlobalGiving. These school children were also given school bags, water bottles, and snacks boxes. After the request from parents, geometry boxes and mathematics equipment were also given to them. True, more could be done for the flood-affected people of Cuddalore. But, there are newer needs due to more pressing projects like Kerala floods and Gaja cyclone-affected families in Tamil Nadu.

 Hence, VOICE Trust discussed with the people of Cuddalore Flood areas and told them that we would like to wind up this project. They were not happy. But we convinced them that VOICE Trust will approach others for future projects. Let us hope for the best.

Big Thank you, Dear Friends, of GlobalGiving.

True, more could be done for the flood-affected people of Cuddalore. But, there are newer needs due to more pressing projects like Kerala floods and Gaja cyclone-affected families in Tamil Nadu. Hence, VOICE Trust discussed with the people of Cuddalore Flood areas and told them that we would like to wind up this project. They were not happy. But we convinced them that VOICE Trust will approach others for future projects. Let us hope for the best.

Big Thank you, Dear Friends, of Global Giving.

VOICE Trust is sad to inform Friends who helped Flood Relief and Rehablitation Programs for Cuddalore Flood Families about the sudden death of Mr. P. K. Samy on July 5,2018. He is the Founder of HESAT NGO - the local collaborator with VOICE Trust for Cuddalore Flood Response with you and GlobalGiving. His wife Mrs. Tamilselvi has taken over the responsibilities from August 12,2018

VOICE Team discussed with the Flood affected Families in Cuddalore region and learnt from them that they want to revive Nature Agriculture. They want help from Friends through GlobalGiving for preparing Bio - Manures and Bio - Pest Repellents. VOICE Trust is ready to support 1500 Marginal Farmers. Each of them will need $ 25 and above for Nature Agriculture Enterprises. 

On behalf of the Flood affected Families of Cuddalore, VOICE Trust appeals to you for help. 

Review meetings were organized during March - May 2018 period with flood affected families of Cuddalore. They appreciated the emergency relief extended to them by many friends through Global Giving from January 2016. Though, their priority was rebuilding of homes destroyed by floods, still, they accepted educational supports for Children and livelihood schemes for single Women and Widows. During the final review meeting held by the local collaborating organization HESAT, the flood affected families appealed for the following:

- Guide books for 272 school Children with minimum of INR 300 per student. 

- Goat rearing for 60 single Women and Widows with INR 5000 per Woman. 

- Growing of herbals for native medicenes by 120 Women with INR 1500 per Woman 

NGOs do continue to motivate flood affected families for approaching Government for schemes. It takes more time. In the meantime, it is important that you and we work through Global Giving for extending minimum supports for the integrated developments of flood affected families in Cuddalore. Please consider whatever you can. 

In fact, flood devastation was greater in Cuddalore District. But, highlight was on Chennai floods. Heavy rains made life of resource poor rural people miserable from December 2015.

Thanks to the supports of Friends like you, Relief and rehabilitation programs were extended to the flood victims in parts of Cuddalore victims. Though, we could not help them to rebuild the flood destroyed homes, still, Educational supports to the school children, Livelihood supports to women and Bio – inputs making by farming men and women , were implemented . VOICE Trust thanks you for your quick and great helps.

VOICE Trust and local partner HESAT start evaluation meetings with flood affected people in Cuddalore (photos attached). Women leaders appreciate educational supports for school Children and livelihood schemes for resource poor families. Women leaders request Friends to support bio inputs making for sustainable agriculture. VOICE Trust appeals through Global Giving.