By Parvathy Ganesan | Project Leader
“This is the best birthday gift that God could have given me” – Santhakumari Teacher, retired educator and President of the Village Panchayath for the last 25 years, could not hide her joy, when we told her that ATMA would be ready to support some deserving families in her village to rebuild their homes. And, purely by chance, the day we met her to convey the news, was her birthday!
It was from the Global Giving network that we first learnt about an unskilled labourer in Kundur, whose house was totally damaged in the flood. Along with his wife, a bed-ridden mother-in-law, and two teenage boys, he has been taking refuge in a room behind a shop, ever since the flood took away their home on 15th August 2018. When Government officials visited, the walls were still standing. Though they cautioned him not to stay there, they could report it only as partially damaged, making him eligible only for a small compensation. Two days after the visit, the walls collapsed. In spite of their best efforts, the family cannot make good of the loss on their own. They are already burdened with the care of their aged mother, and their young son, who is under treatment.
The ATMA Team, looking out for flood victims who may be out of the Government support system, came to know of the family through the Global Giving network. Initial visits ascertained the genuineness of their need. Now, with support from the ATMA Flood Relief fund, the family has started rebuilding their house.
With help from ground-level social workers and LSG representatives like Santhakumari teacher, more such families are being identified, whose need is genuine, and for whom other sources of support are not available.
Though the focus of our relief work is Kuzhur and nearby villages like Kundur, ATMA has also been providing assistance to deserving people all over Kerala, whenever such needs have been reported. We have supported families in Alappuzha and Ernakulam for repair of partially damaged homes, and for purchasing basic amenities to restart their lives.
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