Status of Emergency Evacuation Route Road construction

Six years ago on the fateful day of 26^th December, 2004, twenty (23) men, women and children of our village were killed in the deadly Great Tsunami. In order to prevent such losses again, Government proposed to construct of “Emergency Evacuation Route Road” for us. The construction of road is not yet complete even after 2,161 days since the Great Tsunami.

We also want to bring to your kind notice that the “Emergency Evacuation Route Road” is a mandatory under the new National Disaster Management Plan (Sec 5.2.1 under “Prevention/Protection and Mitigation from risk of Tsunami: A Strategy Paper”, Ministry of Home Affairs, 2005). This is also advised as per "Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World, 1994"

Negative Implications for us:

1. In case we are not provided with the “Emergency Evacuation Route Road” on time (before another disaster hits us), god forbid the loss of lives in that case can be as high as during the Great Tsunami of 2004.

2. Currently 120 school children who are studying in the Thiruvettakuddy High school are taking the dangerous route through open fields and deep canal, thereby endangering their life. They can take Mandabathur - Thiruvettakuddy road, but that is a circuitous route.

Kindly see the attachments to know our current vulnerable status.

1. Photographs depicting current approach/exit roads to Kalikuppam

2. Map(Rough) depicting the current and proposed evacuation route for Kalikuppam

3. “Prevention/Protection and Mitigation from risk of Tsunami: A Strategy Paper”, Ministry of Home Affairs,2005 (32 Pages)

Current Status of the Project:

Total Road Length: 1500 m

Direction : To the west of Old Kalikuppam to Thiruvettakuddy via New Sant Namdev

Nagar.

Road Segment	Length	Status
Road from Old Kalikuppam to Western most edge of Sant Namdev Nagar	300 m	Complete
Road from Thiruvettakuddy to paddy field	200 m (Mud Road) 200 m (Metal Road)	Complete In - Complete
Road from west of Sant Namdev Nagar to Thiruvettakuddy Road.	1000 m	In - Complete

Agencies informed us that there is fund shortage, but not laying this road for our village may cost us several lives.

We the people of Tsunami affected village of Kalikuppam humbly pray to the Government of Puducherry through you to expedite the Road construction work and save us from likely threat from another Tsunami or other such disasters.

Reference:

http://www.ndmindia.nic.in/Tsunami2004/Strategy%20Paper%20on%20Tsunami.pdf

Kindly suggest us a list of books that can be brought for our VKC

Dear all,

You all know about our village knowledge center.It is functioning well.Yesterday we bought two computers for the center.

(Visit http://kalikuppam.blogspot.com/ OR http://newearthefforts.blogspot.com/)

Tomorrow at 2-4 pm, we are conducting an awareness camp on India's Ocean Information system's services to fisherman and AIRTEL-IFFCO Fisherman Voice SMS service.MSSRF staff will be conducting the programme. Today myself and Meikandan (MSSRF) mobilized the people for tomorrow's programme. We expect good participation tomorrow.

As per our earlier plan we have setup a tiny library in our VKC. With the fresh funds coming in, we are planning to buy around 100 books more for the library. (We have repaired a bureau with help of village youth for this purpose).

I request you all to kindly suggest us a list of books that can be brought for our VKC. I have attached an XL sheet, kindly fill and mail me back as early as possible.

Our Target readers are:

1. School going children

2. College (ITI, Engg, Polytechnic, Arts, Science students)

3. Housewives

4. Unmarried young women

5. Fisherwomen

6. Fisherman

7. Neo Literate

Already for our present collection of 20 odd books we have good response. Hope we can build a interesting and worthy collection.

Together we can make our VKC best in the country( as said by our village headmaster in the VKC inauguration function.)

--
Thank you,

New Earth Team

Kalikuppam VKC get new Computers

On Feb 3rd New Earth Team bought 2 CPU, 2 UPS and 1 DVD Writer for Kalikuppam VKC for 21,400/- from Challenge Computers Karaikal.NEWA will repair the 2 computers taking the number of working computer to 4. MSSRF recommends minimum 3 computers per VKC. This will enable more users to access knowledge content and train in computer basics. Soon the VKC may get BSNL Broadband connection for its users.

VOC youth Club celebrated Republic Day in Primary School

VOC Youth Club of Kalikuppam celebrated Republic Day with students of Kalikuppam Primary School on January 26th.This was the first function organized by the Club apart from the General Body meeting and the Awareness camp about Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan. Youth collected fund from the villagers and brought lot of prizes for the children.

School Headmaster and Teachers conducted the games and quiz for the students. Many parents witnessed the proceeding. Children enjoyed the games and quiz session.

Youth participated in the quiz. School Teachers and NEWA Volunteer conducted the quiz. Visual round was also conducted.

Panchayatars,Headmaster and NEWA Volunteer distributed the prize. Teachers and youth took

lot of pain to organize the event. Headmaster expressed his immense happiness about the youth's contribution in organizing the event.

Youth informed the NEWA Volunteer and Headmaster about their desire to relocate the

playground. Both assured them of their help.

Headmaster suggested to NEWA Volunteer that details about the youth needed to be collected

using a form to organize them better and wean them away from alcohol and betting

Ayurvedic Camp for Kalikuppam Women

Ayurvedic Camp for Kalikuppam Women was organised by the VKC.

Dr. Alipe Papachan conducted the programme. Mrs.Vasantha organised the

session with help of NEWA Volunteer. 28 women participated and befitted from the programme.

Dr.Alipe educated them about healthy diet, personal hygiene, menstrual cycle,

pregnancy and menopause. She also informed about the communicable and

non communicable diseases.

She informed the about the services provided by the Neravy Government Ayurvedic

Hospital. She informed them about the timings, facilities available and the bus timings etc.

Women freely asked their doubts and got it clarified. NEWA Volunteer initially introduced

the doctor and later Knowledge Worker Mrs.Vasantha gave the vote of thanks.

Young women latter personally interacted with doctor to clarify their doubts. Doctor latter

made her comments in the visitor notebook.

Our Hounarable Ward Member Mr.Desingh leaves us to heavenly abode.

Our Honorable Ward Member Mr.Desingh has left us to heavenly abode. He was 45 year old. He has left behind 3 unmarried girls. He battled for his life for past 20 days.

He was injured heavily in an Van-Bus accident in Madurai on 19th Dec 2009.

He has helped the villagers throughout his life. It is an irreparable loss for all of us. We will do our best to the three girl child of him and follow his legacy of service to the brethren.

We once again deeply condole the death of Our Honorable Ward Member

Mr.Desingh

Employment Information Center of Village Knowledge center-Kalikuppam

Village Knowledge Center - Kalikuppam

Employment Information Center

Email: kalikuppam.vkc@gmail.com

Website: http://kalikuppam.blogspot.com/search/label/EIC-VKC

New Earth Welfare Association((NEWA)) is one of the alumnus body of Pondicherry engineering college. It is a non profit organization, working for the development of villages in Karaikal for the past 5 years. Since January 2010 through its Village Knowledge center in Kalikuppam, Karaikal it has been providing much needed Knowledge, Training and Linkages to the rural masses in partnership with donors and Village community.

Village Knowledge center-Kalikuppam through its study has found that unemployed youth in Karaikal do not know about the vacancies and many companies are finding it difficult to communicate vacancies to the youth. As Village Knowledge center-Kalikuppam is well equipped to provide the requisite information to both unemployed youth and Employers. It has started providing following services through its Employment Information Center.

To Unemployed Youth:

- Providing details about employment opportunities to youth through Public Address Systems, SMS, Community Newspaper, Postcard, E-Mail and Notice Board.

- Conducting Career counseling session for youth and students.

- Conducting Free Computer Training Course, which was designed by Microsoft Corporation under the name of “Microsoft Unlimited Potential Program(MUPP)” in partnership with MSSRF,Nagapattinam.

To Companies/Employers:

- Providing details about availability of eligible youth for recruitment through E-Mail, Phone and Letter.

- Disseminate vacancy details to the village youth through Loud Speaker, SMS, Community Newspaper, Postcard, E-Mail and Notice Board.

Village Knowledge center-Kalikuppam requests you to utilize the above services offered by us and send us the vacancy details to the village Knowledge center.

Photos from Inauguration function of Village Knowledge Centre

Press Release: Inauguration of Village Knowledge Centre

This is a Press release about the Village Knowledge Center (VKC) inauguration by Deputy Director – Fisheries in Kalikuppam village in Karaikal district. This VKC has setup by Kalikuppam People & Panchayatars and the Pondicherry Engineering College Alumnus body-New Earth Welfare Association with support of MSSRF. We request you to kindly publish this constructive News in your esteemed Newspaper. We have attached Photographs taken on that occasion.

Press Release (English)

Inauguration of the Village Knowledge Centre in Kalikuppam, Karaikal

A new Village Knowledge Centre (VKC) was inaugurated by Fisheries department’s Deputy Director on behalf of Karaikal collector Dr.N.Vasanthakumar,IAS in Kalikuppam fisherman village in Karaikal district on 7^th January 2010. This VKC has setup by Kalikuppam People & Panchayatars and the Pondicherry Engineering College Alumnus body-New Earth Welfare Association with the support of MSSRF and District administration. This new VKC will now start the process of social change through filling up the knowledge gap in the village society. VKC will provide knowledge about daily News, weather, sea conditions, employment opportunities, health tips etc; books from its library; capacity building training through various agencies to students, women and fisherman and also establish linkages with numerous service agencies in government, private and non-governmental field. It has been provided with powerful loud speakers from Revenue department, computers, books, newspapers, government pamphlets, newspaper, notice board and informational charts.

Kottucherry Commune commissioner, Pondicherry Engineering College Alumnus body-New Earth Welfare Association’s volunteers, FFDA representative,Kalikuppam Primary School headmaster, Traditional Panchayatars of Kalikuppam and large number of villagers of Kalikuppam participated in the programme. Murugaram an PEC Alumnus explained about the purpose of the VKC, Fisheries department’s Deputy Director called upon the people to use the VKC in order to bring marked change their living standards. Commune commissioner and Fisheries department’s Deputy Director promised all help to the VKC. Jamsetji Tata National Virtual academy fellows Mrs.Jayalakshmi, Mrs.Sasikala and Mr.Balamugundan shared their experience in running a similar VKC in Agalangannu village in Karaikal.

Earlier Rajya Sabha MP and MSSRF’s Chairman Prof.M.S.Swaminathan had sent an email to the Panchayatars wishing them all success for the VKC project. Mrs.Vasantha, Mrs.Meghala and Mrs.Chitra of Kalikuppam will be the Village Knowledge workers. The function was organized by Panchayatars, Village Knowledge workers and the Pondicherry Engineering College Alumnus body-New Earth Welfare Association.

Press Release(Tamil)

With all your blessings Knowledge revolution has begun in Kalikuppam

We thank you all for the blessings you have sent to us through email. We assure you that we will undertake all efforts to bring Knowledge revolution in our village soon.

Yesterday(7th Jan) evening, after paying floral tributes to the Father of the Nation, Village Knowledge Revolution Flag was hoisted in Kalikuppam, Red ribbon was cut, Name board of the VKC was opened and a lamp was lit to symbolically inaugurate the VKC.

5 tiny tots sang the Tamil thai vazthu (Prayer Song) at the beginning and National Anthem at the end.

More than 90 people witnessed the proceedings and wished the VKC all success.Deputy Director Fisheries and Commune Commissioner presided over the function. Along with them Primary school headmaster and Panchayat representative spoke and blessed the initiative.

Deputy Director Fisheries, Commune Commissioner wished the VKC all success, they offered to extend all support to the VKC and the knowledge workers. Deputy Director said with World Bank aid they are planning to create VKC's in all 11 coastal village in Karaikal.Commune Commissioner called upon the youth to participate wholeheartedly in the knowledge revolution. Headmaster wished the VKC to become the best in the country.

Our Knowledge workers sister Mrs.Vasantha gave the welcome speech, Mrs.Meghala gave the vote of thanks and Mrs.Chitra looked after the arrangements. Sister Mrs.Meghala specifically thanked the people of Maharashtra and their Government for building their homes. Youth took the responsibility to clean up the venue. We honored the guest and NEWA volunteer Mr.Murugan @ Mourugaram S.V gave an introduction to VKC. A small book on Physical exercise was presented as memento to all.

TATA NVA fellows Sisters Mrs.Jayalakshmi and Mrs.Sasikal, the Knowledge Workers from MSSRF's Agalangannu VKC explained to the people about the benifts of a VKC and about their daily work in their VKC. NEWA volunteer explained to the guest and the people about the conferment of Tata National Virtual Academy fellowship to both of them.TATA NVA fellow Mr.Balamugundan too participated.

At the end of the programme we introduced Master.Pazhanivel a cancer patient to the guest and requested them their help for him.

Due to important pre-occupation Karaikal District Collector could not attend the function and he had send the Deputy Director Fisheries as his representative.

We have just taken the fist step. The people of Kalikuppam have lot of expectation from the VKC. With help of MSSRF-Nagapattinam VRC, Pondicherry Engineering College alumnus body-NEWA and TATA NVA fellows sisters Mrs.Jayalakshmi and Mrs.Sasikal, the Knowledge Workers from MSSRF's Agalangannu VKC, we can definitely fulfil the aspiration of the Kalikuppam people. We have made a personal request in this regard to them and they have kindly accepted the request.

We thank you all for your warm support and good wishes.

We will keep up our promise.

Thank you,

Kalikuppam Panchayatars,

Kalikuppam Village,

Thiruvettakudi, Kottucherry Commune,

Karaikal District, 609609.

http://kalikuppam.blogspot.com/

Letter from Prof.M.S.Swaminathan

from Swami-MSSRF to kalikuppam.panchayat@gmail.com date Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 3:26 PM mailed-by mssrf.res.in

hide details 3:26 PM (18 hours ago)

MSS/GKD/

07 January 2010

Kalikuppam Panchayatars

kalikuppam.panchayat@gmail.com

Dear Sir,

Thank you very much for your kind letter. I am very happy that you are inaugurating the Village Knowledge Centre today. I wish this programme great success. We should see a Knowledge Revolution in Kalikuppam Panchayat soon.

With warm personal regards,

Yours sincerely,

M S Swaminathan

Cc: Mr Senthil Kumaran

============================
PROF M S SWAMINATHAN
Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha)
Chairman, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation
Third Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area
Chennai - 600 113 (India)
Tel: +91 44 2254 2790 / 2254 1229; Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
Email: swami@mssrf.res.in / msswami@vsnl.net

Preparatory work for VKC Inauguration

VOC Youth made arrangement for the VKC inauguration

Letter to Prof.M.S.Swaminathan from Panchayat

from Kalikuppam Panchayat to chairman@mssrf.res.in cc Senthil , senthilrural@gmail.com, vel vizhi , vizhi03 , thiagarajanear33 , girija123 , Jayakrishnan , rameshshangar@gmail.com, "Murugan @ Mourugaram S.V" date 6 January 2010 22:26 subject Need your blessing for the new Village Knowledge centre in Kalikuppam. mailed-by gmail.com Signed by gmail.com

hide details 6 Jan (1 day ago)

Respected Sir,

With your blessings we are living peacefully in our new Kalikuppam Tsunami rehabilitation village (Sant Namdev Nagar) built by Maharashtra Government in Karaikal District of Puducherry U.T.

Sir, tomorrow on 7th January 2010 at 4.00PM, Karaikal Collector has consented to inaugurate our new Village Knowledge Centre.We seek your blessings for the successful functioning of this VKC.

MSSRF-Nagapattinam VRC and New Earth Welfare Association (One of the Pondicherry Engineering college Alumnus body) has helped us in setting up this VKC.

Mrs.Vasantha and Mrs.Meghala have been nominated as the village Knowledge workers.

Tata NVA fellow Mr.Ramesh of Akkarapettai village in Nagapattinam and Mr.Murugan @ Mourugaram S.V of Karaikal (Pondicherry Engineering college Alumnus) introduced us to your concept of VKC. (Kalikuppam is the ancestral village of Mr.Ramesh.)

We are thankful to MSSRF for its support and Tata NVA fellow Mr.Ramesh.

Sir,We have attached the invitation for your kind notice.

(Note: we have attached the Tamil font to be copied in C:\WINDOWS\Fonts)

Thank you,

Kalikuppam Panchayatars,

Kalikuppam Village,

Thiruvettakudi, Kottucherry Commune,

Karaikal District, 609609.

http://kalikuppam.blogspot.com/

Kalikuppam VKC Inauguration Invitation

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The people of Kalikuppam, Traditional Panchayatars of Kalikuppam and New Earth Welfare Association, Karaikal heartily invite you for the

Inauguration of

Kalikuppam Village Knowledge Center

On

7^th January, 2010 4.00 PM

at

Old Community Hall in Kalikuppam Village

in Kottucherry Commune, Karaikal District.

Our Karaikal District Collector

Dr.N.Vasantha Kumar, IAS

has consented to inaugurate the VKC

We expect your blessings and continuous support for the effective functioning of the Village Knowledge Center so as to build Kalikuppam as a model village.

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http://kalikuppam.blogspot.com/

Phone: 9047281741(źó¾¡), 9865941357(§Á¸Ä¡),

+91 4368 266398