Cuddalore and Kancheepuram

First impressions after the visits: There are two patterns of impact in the two districts. Since it has been raining for a more than a month in Cuddalore district, the problems are clearly associated with flooding related to incessant rains. Whereas, in Kancheepuram district the flooding is largely due to the breach lakes, flooding of water bodies and canals.

The residents of the affected villages expressed that their main concerns were housing and livelihood. Residents of Kuchipalayam said that out of the 180 households 170 lived in thatched houses. It was observed that these houses were clearly damaged and did not even have tarpaulins to keep them safe at night. On the other hand the neighbouring villages such as MGR thittu, Kalangaiyar nagar, Mulukku thittu, MGR nagar, Ponnan Thittu and Eddapalayam had serious livelihood issues. The Irulars who lived in these areas were found to be particularly vulnerable as they had concrete houses that were constructed as part of the the post Tsunami relief. Since the houses look un affected those who come to provide relief feel that they are unaffected. An interaction and close observation proved that these families did not have much to eat. They survived on the rice that they had received through the public distribution system. Hence there is an urgent need to take stock of the situation and provide them with the basic supplies for their survival.

The villages in Kancheepuram portrayed a completely different scenario. The villages adjoining Palar river were affected due to the damaged bridges. They had to use boats to reach the villages and it was impossible to deal with medical emergencies at night as the boats operated only during till 5.00 pm. However, irulas and dalits who lived in these villages were living on the edge as they were severely affected due to the rise in water in the lakes. Having been excluded in the entire development process, it appeared as though the Irulas of Chinna Edyapalayam were living in the 19^th Century. The same was the case in Manappakkam and Olaloor villages near Chingleput. On the outskirts of Olaloor, 50 families live on the banks on the lake. When the water levels on the lake rose it took almost half the houses. The huts were completely destroyed and need complete reconstruction. It was tragic to see a family belonging to the Landhar community, a community that raises pigs and in this season they flog themselves and beg for alms for livelihood had almost nothing to eat. The head of the family was found to be cooking a crane he managed to catch in the lake and said that it was the food for the family. They neither had rice nor bread to go with it. These areas also would need immediate attention.