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The Advocacy Project seeks to help community-based advocates produce, disseminate and use information, and so become more effective advocates for human rights and social justice

Resources > Global Issues > Sri Lanka – Reb... > HHR Monthly Reports > Tsunami Relief Pr...

Tsunami Relief Project V, May 1, 2006- June 30, 2006

The following report was written by the staff of the Home for Human Rights (HHR).

Poonochchimunai

Sewing school

HHR staff met the trainees once in a week and followed up the progress of the trainees. Kavitha, Tharshini, Lingeswary and Nagaledchumi earn a little money by stitching clothes (sarongs, skirts, pillow covers, saree skirts, suits for small children and shortees) for their relatives when they are free. Priya earns about Rs.1700/- a month by stitching the clothes of her relatives. (When Vasanthan went inside Priya's and Vanaja's house, he saw a television set placed on the sewing machines.)

Pamila by stitching sarongs and shortees derived an income of about Rs.1580/- by stitching clothes from the day she was provided with the sewing machine. Sumithra started stitching in May but her sewing machine was damaged. The entire front setting of it needs to be changed. Later she informed HHR that it is working properly. She stitches garments for small children. Sumithra, Mohanapiriya and Jeyananthiny stitched garments for small children. Chithranganie stitched sarongs, shortees, nighties etc., up to December and thereby derived an income of about Rs. 3000/- but she could not continue as she was suffering from head ache. She had to stop stitching work on medical advices and has to face a medical check up on June 14, 2006. From the beginning Vanitha has derived an income of about Rs.8000/- having stitched shortees, panjaby, sarongs etc.
 
Sinthuja has stitched salvar kamis and bedsheets for hospital. Her mother is employed at Batticaloa Hospital so she stitches hospital bed sheets pillow covers. She also said that a person known to her employed at a garments factory wanted her to stitch edges of hanger chiefs produced at the said factory.
 
Manjula goes to Valaichenai three days a week to conduct classes on sewing. On the other days she stitches saree blouses, shortees, saree skirts etc.

HHR staff explained them about the information (name of garment stitched, for whom it was stitched, the amount charged, income etc). HHR needs to have regarding their progress in sewing. They told that they will be able to earn a better income during the festival seasons like Thai pongal, April New Year and Theepavali etc. Some of them said that they made inquiries from certain shops at Kattankudy whether they can sell their ready-made garments. The shop keepers have said that they will supply necessary materials and thread etc., and will pay Rs.10 per item as stitching charges. Therefore, they have given up that and have contacted some other shops.

Common building

Parasuraman and Vasanthan went to the Divisional Secretariat to collect the permit in respect of a land to construct the common building; the L.O. wanted the members of the Temple Administrative Body to call over once again. We informed the president, treasurer and secretary that they said that they met the L.O and when asked for the permit, he promised to issue Temporary permit and to send same to the office shortly.

Channel
 
The plan and estimate for the channel was handed over to the municipal council. We also informed them to meet the authorities concerned and to agitate the matter.

Representatives of the Foundation for Co Existence organization came to our office and made inquires about the instructions of a channel at Poonochcimunai. They informed that when they went to that area during the floods to provide relief, the people living around the place told them, When we were at the Music college and Hindu cultural Hall, we were discriminated by the people there. Only the officials of the home for human rights came to our rescue and helped us. Besides, they initiated action to solve our main problem, i.e. to erect the channel. They got the area surveyed, drew the necessary sketch but the work is at a stand still for want of funds. Therefore, they asked for the sketch from us. We informed them to come on May 29, 2006.

Cheddipalayam

Washer families

HHR contacted Mr.Sornalingam, the representative of the S.L.C.D.F., and inquired about the progress of the programme proposals. Mr.Sornalingam informed HHR that he has misplaced the necessary documents in the process of the office being shifted and that he will contact HHR some other day.

Sewing school

HHR staff frequently visited the sewing school at Cheddipalayam. The students are progressing well with their training.

Attendants
 
The classes were not held for about two weeks as the teacher's child was ill. The classes were to be started in July 1. During this period trainees were practicing what they had learnt. During the months of April and May on average 32 students attended the sewing class.
 
Supplies
 
HHR staff purchased and handed over to the teacher, 60 yards of challenger material, 60 yards of poplin, 40 yards of fabric and hooks. And 50 reels of thread.

Tea stall of Mr. Gopalapillai
 
HHR staff met the Tea Kiosk Keeper S. Gopalapillai and had a discussion with him.

The food item available there are:

• Thosai - About 30 nos. Rs. 7.50 each
• Paratta - About 50 nos. Rs. 8.00 each
• Vege-Rotty - About 25 nos. Rs. 15.00 each
• Kottu Rotty - About 20 nos. Rs. 50.00 each
• Maniok 15 kg - 300 pieces. Rs. 10.00 for 3 pieces.

Total Expenses for a day Rs. 3000.00

Turnover for a day Rs.4500.00 to Rs. 5000.00
 
Need assessment report of fishing labourers
 
HHR contacted Mr.Sornalingam the representative of the S.L.C.D.F. and inquired about the progress of the programme proposals. Mr.Sornalingam informed HHR that he has misplaced the necessary documents in the process of the office being shifted and that he will contact HHR some other day.
 
Manalchenai
 
During this period HHR staff could not take the camera to Manalchenai due to the prevailing situation in these parts of the country.
 
Sewing school

Sewing students at Manalchenai are progressing well with their sewing training.
 
Attendants

During this period on average 11 students attended the classes.
 
Supplies
 
HHR staff purchased and handed over steel chain, pad lock, buttons, elastic, eyelets, thread, 12 yards of B/K poplin, 80  yards of T Cotton, Fastners, 20 sheets of brown paper and two scissors to the sewing school.
 
Syllabus

During this period the students learnt the following clothing items

1. Pilow Covers:

• Alangara Thaiyal:  properly done
• Suruku Thaiyal: perfect gaps.
• Mani Thaiyal:  Properly done.

2. Children's garments:

• Cutting to the exact measurement.
• Embrodiery to suit the material.
• Arugu Thaiyal on rear opening of blouses, should have finished according to the size.

3. Sun suits:

• Cutting according to the size and piping
• Embroidery
• Fastening buttons etc., should have been done properly.

4. Thundu Thaiyal:

• Cutting a piece of clothes 150m x 12 cm in size
• Folding according to size and stitching
• Thundu Thaiyal paste system
• Keeping the notes book clean

Digging well

An estimate was taken to build two wells with the help of Mr. Arulanantham and the villagers.

1000 bricks with transport cost 4250+5500 = 23375.00
1 load sand with transport cost = 1800.00
Labour cost = 6000.00
Cement 640*22 = 14080.00
Cement bricks 1*23*135 = 3105.00
10ml wire 3 1*140*3 = 420.00
Concrete bricks = 1800.00


To build one well Rs. 46475.00

To build two wells Rs. 92950.00

Building toilets

It was decided to build toilets for the families of Thiruman Kuppan(Monaragala), Nathanpillai Komalathevi (Ampara), Thurairasa Krishnakumar (Thisamaharama), Sithmparam Ganesan (Thisamaharama), Kanthappar Alagarethinam (Thisamaharama) as other families were provided toilets by other organizations.

An estimate was taken with the help provided by Mr.Arulanantham and the villagers to build six toilets.

01. Hot- Bricks - Rs.4500/= to Rs.3500/= for 1000 nos.

02. Transport - Rs.1000/= to Rs.750/= for 1500 nos.in a tractor trailer.

03. River Sand Rs.2000/= to Rs.1800/= One load of tractor trailer (Including loading charges)

04. (1) Wages to mason - Rs. 6000/= to Rs.4500/= If labour is provided and without laying top plate.

05. (2) Wages to mason - Rs. 8000/= to Rs.6500/= If labour is provided and with laying top plate.

Nasivantheevu

Women society

During this period 10 new members jointed their Women Development Society and HHR contributed Rs.1080/- in the name of the society.

When discussed with the president of Women's Development Society, she informed us that due to the situation that prevails, round-up search operations are taking place very often and harassments by the members of Karuna group have increased and therefore the safety of the youths here is not guaranteed. HHR informed her to contact and inform the situation to I.C.R.C., H.R.C, S.L.M.M., UNICEF etc., to avoid consequences of serious nature and that they must inform the GRAMA NILADARAI of the area and the police.

Sewing school for young women

On May 10, 2006 the training for women in sewing was started. 37 people were present there to attend the course of training. Committee members were also present. The president of the women's Development Society commenced the event. It was stated that preliminary sewing will not be done today and stitching of garments will be demonstrated as a start and embroidery will be demonstrated if there is time. President of the Women's Development Society stated in her speech that this course of training is conducted solely by the women's society with the aid of the Home for Human Rights. At the beginning, it was suggested to grant loans for the widows to engage themselves in self employment activities. But many wanted to undergo a course of training in sewing instead of obtaining loans so that they can do something practicable. Also, various other organization are providing funds for the people living there to carry out what ever industry they are interested in.

She further stated, The items of articles provided will be the property of the women's Society. After completion of the course of training, the five machines supplied for the purpose of training will remain here with the women's society for us to work together as a group. We can save little by little and buy few more sewing machines to run the industry in a large scale."

The training was to be held from May to September, 2006, and that the persons whose names herein mentioned are the trainees. This is in order to avoid any mishaps being taken place

Dishanarajah Yogamma who is already a tailor had agreed to teach the women in Nasivantheevu. The following women were selected by the women society to teach sewing: Kathirkamathambhy Kumuthini, Palani Thangeswary, Ummunithambhy Chandiraleka, Theyvanayakam Manoranchitham, Anthoney Parvathy, Kathirkamathmbhy Rajani, Poniah Kunasundary, Chellathurai Nirmala, Suthakaran Chithrawathy, Kanakaiya Lalitha, Thampimuthu Sakunthaladevi, Vandan Koshini, Ranjan Thilakeswary, Sabapathy Silosini, Thampirajah Jeyanthini, Kirushnamoorthy Saraswathy, Nallaiyah Thanaledsumi, Kumareswaran Parameswary, Irasathurai Sukasini, Thevanayakam Yuyanantha , Pirapakaran Selvi, Kaneshan Irasaledsumi, Shanthakumar Thankamani.

Attendants

Classes are being held on every week day. On average 23 women attend the classes.

Supplies

Handed over five sewing machines, five stools 20 pencils, Graff book, Needles, ruler, C.R.Book, pens, cutter, carbons, ink pad, pad ink, measuring tape, 100 brown paper, 15 thread reels, 26 yards tretron, 27 scissors, 22 yards baby clothes, 10 200 m thread reels, five tracing wheal, five bottles of gum, one box of pins, 22 carbons, 775 g coloured thread, 48 yards poplin, 24 yards batik clothes and 72 yards of butter silk cloth to the school.

Tractor driving and boat mechanism Training for youth

HHR went to Natheera Driver Training Institute and inquired about the position. They informed that all the nine who appeared for the test have been successful. The other youth neither appeared for the test nor tendered a medical certificate though he had reported sick. They informed that all have passed the test in driver training and also have passed the test in motor bicycle riding.

Report with regard to the current situation in Batticaloa district- May and June

Incidents took place during the period from May 1- June 30, 2006.

Situation on Batticaloa District appeared to be worse during this period. Especially from the beginning of May 2006 harassment by the Army was in the increase. Many innocent members of the public, persons interested in Human Rights, learned people etc., were killed or threatened or attacked by the Army and other armed groups.

Ultimately it is reported that all these things were done by unknown persons.

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