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Social Work Students of Tamil Nadu Provide Valuable
Data to the NGOs on Tsunami Victims:
In response to the devastating Tsunami
that struck Tamil Nadu on December 26th, 2005, the Department
of Social Work, Stella Maris College, Chennai, in collaboration
with Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Schools of Social Work
with the support of Action Aid, came up with a unique project
of data collection that should prove invaluable for Government
and Non Governmental organisations seeking to continue relief
work among the Tsunami victims. Twenty- nine schools of Social
Work and one NGO joined hands to make a comprehensive assessment
of damage to life, livelihood and assets in the State and to provide
psychosocial support to affected persons, especially women and
children.
With technical input from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences,
Mumbai, the staff of Tamil Nadu's schools of Social Work constructed
an effective tool for data collection. The tool comprised of three
instruments: a schedule for households (to assess damage, loss
and opinion regarding livelihood regeneration and help expected),
a schedule for the villages (to collect information on demographic,
economic and social issues after the Tsunami) and format for Focus
Group Discussion (to understand issues specific to individuals
and groups in the village).
Data was collected from January 15, 2005 to February 12, 2005 from the districts of Thiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tanjore, Pudukottai, Tutucorin, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari.
In the villages, students established contact with elders and leaders in the community. With their co-operation and available records, information about households lists was obtained. Information was also collected on groups that have moved to other places. After the interview session, each family was provided a card with vital information, which would assist them in availing of relief measures from Governmental and Non Governmental organisations. Efforts were also directed towards meeting families who had moved out of the villages after the Tsunami. In order to gain insight into various issues related to the Tsunami, Focus Group Discussions were conducted with men, women, youth and members of the self-help groups. Students also spent time interacting with the children of these villages. Social Work students were also involved in providing psychosocial support and intervention.
NIMHANS Bangalore and Stella Maris College, Chennai provided the support in training students in psychosocial care. The International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, provided technical assistance in data entry, validation, correction and finalisation of files for each village. Data was entered at Loyola College, Chennai and Arulanandar College, Karumathur. Workshops were organised for training in report writing.
Overall, data was collected from ninety thousand families, spread over eleven districts in two hundred and twenty six affected villages in Tamil Nadu.
This data is being made available to Governmental and Non Governmental organisations in the hope that it will strengthen rehabilitation measures and facilitate intervention in assisting those affected by the Tsunami.
This joint collaboration of efforts of Tamil Nadu Schools of Social Work was made possible because of the encouragement received from the Vice Chancellors of Madras University, Bharatiar University and the Bharatidasan University & Heads of institutions who formed the core team, with Principal of Stella Maris College, Chennai, Dr. Sr. Annamma Philip as Advisor.
Action Aid (India), Tata Relief Committee, North American Tamil Sangam provided all the required financial support.
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