On Saturday, when the Tamil Nadu government finally woke up to the need to coordinate and network with NGOs and relief agencies in tsunami-affected areas, it turned to the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) and Kutch-based NGO Kutch Abhiyan. Kutch Abhiyan, which spearheaded relief and rehabilitation and is doing tremendous work in quake-hit Kutch, has set up an NGO coordination cell at the Nagapattinam District Collectorate. Sushma Iyengar, who heads the NGO, says they are setting up coordination systems at the district collectorate and field systems levels. ‘‘Our priority now is to set up village coordination cells because that is where actual relief will be distributed from,’’ says Iyengar. ‘‘At present, even though relief supplies are coming in, receiving and distribution is not coordinated properly. NGO volunteers and relief teams have no information about where they should be going and where they are urgently required,’’ she says. Meanwhile, Secretary for Rural Development, Shanta Sheela Nair, has contacted the GSDMA, seeking help in disposing bodies still lying inside some huts and boats that have been crushed. GSDMA joint CEO V. Thirupugazh told The Indian Express from Gandhinagar that 10 tonnes of chemicals, which will hasten decomposition of bodies and disinfectants to be sprayed on mass graves, have been dispatched. ‘‘A large number of bodies have been buried in mass graves. To counter the threat of an epidemic, these chemicals and disinfectants will be sprayed all over the district. A team has already flown down with spraying machines. A special train with 40 bogies has also left with warm blankets and other relief supplies while medicines have been sent on a flight,’’ says Thirupugazh. In fact, NGOs and relief agencies arriving here are amazed that work is being stopped at night due to lack of lights, especially in Nagapattinam and Akkaraipettai, where bodies and debris are lying uncleared and work is slow. The GSDMA, which has developed mobile lighting systems, is sending them to Nagapattinam for use during night-time operations. On Saturday evening, after the NGO coordination cell was set up, Nagapattinam District Collector Veera Shanmugha Moni called a meeting of NGOs. ‘‘At least 30 different NGOs have arrived here in the last two days but due to lack of coordination, they could not be directed to the areas where they are required,’’ says a UNICEF coordinator, adding, ‘‘due to this, some camps are receiving all the aid while others are not getting anything at all.’’ Kutch Abhiyan has been given the task of networking these NGOs for effective delivery of relief and rehabilitation. ‘‘The NGOs will work with South Indian Fish Workers Society and a local grassroots NGO Sneha to carry out the task,’’ says Iyengar. Modi flags off relief train
