10th Anniversary of Tsunami Disaster Day at Chothavilai

The 10th Anniversary of the Tsunami Disaster Day was commemorated on 26th Dec 2014 at Chothavilai beach to pay homage to the victims of Tsunami.

The participants include; 150 children from the Child Activity Centers in Mela Manakudy, Keezha Manakudy, Chothavilai, Pallam, Annai Nager and Mela Krishnanputhoor, 50 members of the HEAL/YES (youth in Environment for sustainability) forum, 34 families that lost members of their families from eleven interior villages and 65 tourists to Chothavilai. Mrs. Rukmoni, Executive Officer of Puthalam Town Panchayat, Mr. Siluvai Vasthian, Director of HEAL, Mrs. Rathika, coordinator of HEAL and the staff of HEAL felicitated the program.

The participants took out a silent procession from the entrance of the Chothavilai beach to the park to pay homage to the victims of Tsunami. Mrs. Rukmoni, the Executive Officer of the Puthalam Town Panchayat inaugurated the function with homage in remembrance of the victims. Mr. Siluvai Vasthian lit candles and showered flowers before the photos of the victims of Tsunami. This was followed by paying homage by the family members of the victims.

Mass media Sun TV Network telecast the program on live in their channel. Mr. Siluvai Vasthian said that early warning system against Tsunami has not yet been installed in the Tsunami affected villages. Moreover, adequate infra structure facilities in the event of a Tsunami like disaster have not been put in place in the villages. The disaster was mainly due to the destruction of coastal sand dunes that once protected the coastal villages against any sea based disasters.The children were motivated to play in the sand along the beach and make sand images of their liking. The tourists appreciated creativity of the children and took photographs of these images.

Mrs. Selvarani from Mela Manakudy remembered the bitter and painful events during the Tsunami. She lost her own sister before her eyes on that fateful day. She complained that the government is not interested in the welfare of the families of Tsunami victims.

Selvan Siljan from Annai Nager shared his experience during the Tsunami and the psycho social care and support he received from HEAL. He also explained the present livelihood status of the fishermen community.

The families, from Thengamputhoor Town Panchayat, that lost members during the Tsunami came forward and expressed their feelings about the program to the TV crew members. They said that this was the first time that all the members of the families affected by Tsunami gathered in a single place and paid homage to the victims. Only this year, HEAL has displayed the pictures of the victims in a banner and this enabled us to pay collective homage.

While the program was telecast live in Sun TV, many persons from abroad contacted us and appreciated the program. The event found adequate coverage in the local newspapers and thereby the entire population of the district received the message.

The participants thanked HEAL and the staff for conducting such a community based program and it was decided to conduct similar program every year during the Tsunami Day to pay homage to the victims of Tsunami.