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 The tale of six brave women
On International Women’s Day (March 8th) international agency, Oxfam saluted the efforts of six brave women across the tsunami-affected areas of India who have been taking courageous steps to rebuild their lives. Some have returned to traditional livelihood, despite their fears of another tsunami. Some have launched new businesses with the support of NGOs and donations, while others have even been able to bring new life into the world - after losing their children to the tragedy.
Last year’s tsunami had hit women the hardest of all, according to a report issued by Oxfam last year. In many tsunami-affected areas, more women than men died and in some villages in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu three times as many women died as men. Some couldn’t swim, some were trying to save their children and others simply found their clothing difficult for them to flee the waves.
For those women who survived the tsunami, rebuilding their lives has been difficult. Forced to live in temporary shelters, in sometimes unsafe conditions, without the support of male family members and at times facing societal pressures to get remarried. All of this while facing the grief and loss caused by the tsunami.
Despite these problems, many women in the tsunami-affected areas of India have made great strides to re-start their lives. International agency Oxfam has been working with local partners to give women the finances, the tools, the training and the support to begin their lives anew.
In the Kollam area of Kerala, Tarabhai is one of a group of women who formed a self-help group and constructed a small canteen to provide breakfast, lunch and snacks to men who work in the backwaters. Tarabhai supervises the kitchen and her group members assist her in preparing the meals. "Most of our customers are fishermen. When they return from the sea, they come to our canteen for lunch. We prepare meals to serve 25 people a day. Tsunami washed away our cooking shed and took with it all utensils and the stock of grains and spices that we had. Now, my canteen is functioning well and my customers are happy again," said
Tarabhai.
In Suburayapuram village of Nagappattinam district, Vasugi, aged 35 years, is a Dalit woman who is now engaged in coir making. Prior to tsunami, she worked as an agricultural labour for over 10 years. The lands having turned saline, she was clueless about her future. Oxfam has provided training to 50 women on coir making and they are producing quality coir which has a good market. Vasugi is one of the members of this unit and says, "This job provides me income throughout the year and the money I earn from coir making helps me to buy notebooks for my children and meet the day-to day needs of my family."
Rekha lost her baby daughter Florence in the tsunami. It’s a loss that she still grieves. One year on, although still living in a temporary shelter site near Kollam, Kerala, she has received good fortune. She’s now seven months pregnant and has the chance to begin her family again. "Losing my daughter was a huge trauma, I will never forget her. I am glad to be pregnant and hope to have a daughter again," said
Rekha.
Pushpam Lazer, aged 60, lost her husband in the tsunami. They had a petty shop in the Colechal area of Kerala with which her family needs were met. The tsunami not only took away her husband but also the shop they had. Oxfam has provided her with a grant to re-start her business and now she has set up a stall just outside the temporary shelter where she lives with her son. "I like children coming to my shop to buy sweets. It is nice to see them smile. I purchase goods from a town nearby and I earn a profit of 10 to 20 per cent. Even when I move out of the temporary shelter, I will continue to have a petty shop," says
Pushpam.
Valliamma (70) is a Dalit widow who lives in Rasapettai village, in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. She lost her fisherman husband to the tsunami. While many fishermen received new boats and nets that they had lost to the waves, widows like Valliamma faced destitution as well as loneliness in the final years of her life. Now, she is the joint owner of a boat along with five fishermen, which was provided by Oxfam. Every time the men go out to fish, she keeps a proportion of the catch. "My 2 sons go fishing and I get my share in terms of rice and cash. I am glad that I have a share in the boat ownership as this helps me in managing my daily needs," said Valliamma.
Leela lived with her family close to the sea in the Kollam area of Kerala. Her house was severely damaged by the tsunami and all her household items were washed away. Determined to start again and raise money for her family, her self-help group has now started a successful firewood selling business. "The money we make from the firewood sale helps our group invest in other activities like coir making, soap powder and wick making. Despite losing so much in the tsunami, we are now rebuilding our lives," says
Leela.
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