Immediately after the Tsunami had hit India, Tata Relief Committee had rushed in to assist with relief and rescue efforts to the worst affected districts in the state of Tamil Nadu. Within days, the Tata Group also set in motion the implementation of a wellthought out programme to cater to the long-term needs of the victims in Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari with rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.

On February 27, the first 88 units constructed at the “Tata Colony” in Koottappanai village by Tata Relief Committee, were handed over by the Hon’ble Minister for Local Administration, Thiru M K Stalin to the beneficiaries. The ceremony was

presided over by Thiru R Avudaiyappan, Hon’ble Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly and was attended by Thiru TPM Maideen Khan and Dr Poongodhai Aladi Aruna, both Hon’ble Ministers, as well as Dr S Asokan, Chief, Titania Business, Tata Steel.

Each unit has been constructed at a cost of Rs 2.6 lakhs and covers a plinth area of 398 square feet. Thirteen acres of land were provided by the Government of Tamil Nadu for the Rehabilitation Project. Speaking at the function, Dr Asokan shared Tata Group’s philosophy behind its commitment to the tsunami victims. “Those who perished in this horrible tragedy cannot be brought back but as part of the reconstruction and rehabilitation initiative undertaken by TRC, we aim to do whatever we can to provide relief to those left behind - this is our small way to show we care.”