Proneness to natural disaster is huge in coastal context compared to the other three contexts. The livelihood of the coastal communities revolves around fish – fishermen, fishermen labourers, fisherwomen vendors etc. Major source of income comes from inter-district and inter-state fish transportation. Though their settlements which are close to the coast smoothly facilitates various fishing activities, their lives are endangered during times of Tsunami and cyclones.
Though the spread of the corona virus is minimal in the coastal context, the effect the lockdown caused almost equaled the Tsunami and cyclone disaster; only exception is the communities are having their houses intact.
Since the communities majorly depend on the single livelihood, the prohibition of fishing and restriction of transportation resulted in communities’ sustenance depending entirely on government entitlements.
DHAN’s staff and the community leaders in the coastal areas are ensuring all the entitlement benefits to reach DHAN’s member families.
DHAN’s Coastal Regions
Balasore Region
DHAN’s Balasore region is working in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts associated with 6500 daily wage laborers, 400 fishing families, 500 migrant families, 200 families whose livelihood depends on Poultry and 1500 families whose livelihood depends on small petty shops. The DRR committee members in the region are working with various line departments in creating awareness among the villages, distributing ration, ensuring entitlements to the villages and management of quarantine centers. The region has stitched 6868 masks and distributed to the people. 717 people were served with cooked food.
Cuddalore Region
In Cuddalore region, DHAN is working with 3000 agricultural farmers, 1500 horticultural farmers, 500 fishing families and 8000 daily wage laborers. Regional team are ensuring entitlements to reach all the eligible members without fail. Team have been engaged in information dissemination regarding all the schemes to all the members. Local administration in the region are involved in spraying the disinfectant on daily basis through the entire district.
Toothukudi Region
DHAN’s Toothukudi region is working in five blocks viz., Vilathikulam, Pudur, Ottapidaram, Tuticorin and Kazhugumalai, associated with 10886 members, both Vayalagam and CALL programmes. Thirty hand wash demonstrations have been organized across the region covering 2233 families. With the support of members, leaders and associates 1950 masks have been distributed to 520 families in 11 villages and on-duty police officials.Totally 30 hand washing demonstration taken up and totally 2233families are known to keep the hand washing practice.PudurVattara Vayalagam EC Leaders contributed Rs. 10000/- as corona support fund. The fund was allocated to distribute vegetables kits to poorest members and Kabasuneerat the village level.
Nagapattinam Region
DHAN’s Nagapattinam Region is working in eight federations in three districts, working with 14000 poor families. The regional team has distributed 3670 mask to 1200 members in four federations. Video were prepared on how to make masks(without stitching) and circulated in WhatsApp groups advising our members to make their own masks. 1840 members have made their own mask.KabasuraKudineer, a Siddha medicinewas distributed in 42 villages covering 16340 members.In Sirkali Federation, Kalanjiam members have been engaged in providing lunch to 43 vulnerable members in the community from last 14 days. 87 members in the federation have pooled and supported the livelihood activities of 46 Keelathottam Fishermen.
