• " 88 houses constructed at "TATA Colony"
• " The total cost of the project at Koottappanai village is at Rs. 220 lakhs

Tirunelveli, Tuesday, February 27, 2007: The Tata Group, under its TATA Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation Project - Tamilnadu, fulfilled yet another commitment made to itself and the community by successfully completing construction of 88 houses for the residents of Koottappanai Village in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu. The new colony christened "TATA COLONY" was handed over by Hon'ble Minister for Local Administration, Thiru. M K Stalin to the beneficiaries at a function held at the Village today, which was presided over by Thiru. R Avudaiyappan, Honourable Speaker of Tamilnadu Assembly, and graced by Honourable Ministers Thiru. TPM Maideen Khan and Dr. Poongodhai Aladi Aruna. Dr. S.Asokan, Chief, Titania Business, Tata Steel was also present on the occasion.

The "TATA Colony" at the Koottappanai Village which was constructed at a cost of Rs 220 Lakhs includes 88 new houses with a plinth area of 398 sq.ft and costing Rs.2.6 Lakh each. Thirteen acres of land was provided by the Government of Tamil Nadu for this purpose.

The Tata Relief Committee (TRC), true to the Tata spirit, was quick to reach out to some of the worst affected areas in Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu, and its rehabilitation, restoration, reconstruction and relief initiatives encompassed the immediate as well as the long term needs of those affected by this disaster.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. S.Asokan, Chief, Titania Business, Tata Steel, said, "In keeping with our mission of improving the quality of life, we strive towards creating a society in which each individual gets an equal chance in life. Those who perished in this horrible tragedy cannot be brought back but as part of the restructuring and rehabilitating initiative that has been undertaken by Tata Relief Committee, we aim to do whatever we can to provide relief to those left behind. This is our small way to show that we care"

The various relief measures that had been carried out by TRC in the worst affected districts of Tamil Nadu included construction of permanent dwelling units and community amenities centres at a cost of Rs. 31.86 crores for the residents of Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari, Cuddalore and Kovalam, and setting up of village knowledge centres in partnership with MS Swaminathan Research Foundation at a cost of Rs. 1.05 crores. In Kovalam and Kanyakumari, they have distributed FRP boats, catamarans, outboard engines and fishing nets at a total cost of Rs. 85 Lakhs. The program includes promoting alternate livelihood for the local community by motivating them to take up seaweed culture, providing vocational training to women, to reduce school dropouts in the village and also promoting alternate means of livelihood.

The Tata Initiative

The Tata tradition in community development has, since the earliest days of the group's history, been defined by the values embedded in its core. Sustained developmental impact is the primary objective of any community objective that Tata undertakes.

The Tata initiative to lend a helping hand to India's tsunami victims has been directed by the Tata group through an appeal made by the chairman Mr. Ratan Tata to all the Tata employees. The collective resources of the Group and its employee's contributions are used to organise relief and rehabilitation activities.

In the districts of Tamil Nadu where the TATA Group has been working, the organization has succeeded in acting as a catalyst encouraging local youth to take up alternate livelihoods and provided them with all necessary infrastructural support to do the same. The idea was not merely to restore what once was, but to transform the face of the affected districts by strengthening infrastructure and creating model villages. Local aspirations and wishes play an important role in shaping the course of the rehabilitation process.

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