20th anniversary: fishermen’s wait for housing continues at tsunami’s Ground Zero villages in Nagapattinam

A damaged dwelling in a post-tsunami rehabilitation housing colony at Akkaraipettai in Nagapattinam.
| Photo Credit: M. MOORTHY

Billboards declaring the unresolved trauma of fishing communities losing everything to the December 26, 2004 tsunami have sprung up all around Nagapattinam district this week.

The pain continues in the twin villages of Akkarapettai and Keechankuppam, the Ground Zero of the tsunami 20 years ago, where thousands of fishing families were rendered homeless in a matter of hours.

Over 6,000 lives were lost in the district during the tsunami. “Even though 20 years have passed, those who were left behind are still struggling to rebuild their homes. We have become refugees in our own country,” R.M.P. Rajendra Nattar, president, Indian National Fishermen Union, told The Hindu.

Mr. Nattar, who has been spearheading efforts to get the fishermen’s housing issue resolved, said that the community had suffered a lot due to faulty construction projects taken up by the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami.

His 40-year-old home, situated 70m near the sea in Akkarapettai, was among the few structures to resist the tsunami’s fury.

“Many foreign and domestic NGOs and aid agencies came forward with funds and promises of reconstruction as part of the relief efforts in 2005; however slowly, these projects started faltering. Some agencies re-housed fishermen in apartment-style tenements, which do not suit our lifestyle and profession. Those who had the resources, shifted back to their old neighbourhoods even if their homes had gone. They need space to clean their daily catch, and store fishing equipment,” he said.

At a cooperative housing colony near the Railway Gate area, a rehabilitation tenement presents a puzzling picture to the visitor.

Shiny refurbished homes stand adjacent to ones with exposed concrete and rebar. “When we moved in, the home had damp floors, so we tiled it over. Now the plaster on the walls and ceiling have started falling. We face danger as the roof may fall on us anytime, ” said Rajalakshmi, a young homemaker in the colony.

Residents said that families who had lost their homes after the tsunami stayed in temporary shelters for over a year before they were able to shift into such housing colonies.

“With a few exceptions, most of the NGOs delivered sub-standard homes to the fishing community after the tsunami. Financial mismanagement and lack of accountability have hurt rehabilitation efforts,” rued A. Thajuddin, secretary, Tamil Nadu Fishermen’s Welfare Board (TNFWB).

When contacted, Nagapattinam District Collector P. Akash said, “We have done a survey of almost 6,000 houses that were constructed by non-profit organisations, and written to the Special Programme Implementation Department regarding the issue. Right after the monsoon, perhaps early next year, a concerted effort will be taken to get a fund allocation to repair the houses.”