PUDUKOTTAI: The Red Cross has taken up post-tsunami rehabilitation projects in two coastal villages with the aim of creating additional facilities and overall economic development of the fishermen community. The Rs.35 lakh project, financially supported by the Red Cross, commenced in R. Pudhupattinam in Avudaiyarkoil taluk and V. Pudhukudi in Manamelkudi taluk in the month of June 2006.

A community hall, new crèche building and crab-fattening unit are under construction at R. Pudhupattinam, while a crèche and a net mending shed will come up at V. Pudhukudi.

The ongoing works have been taken up under the overall guidance and direction of the District Collector. The net mending shed is being constructed in a big area to enable fishermen keep their nets in safe custody and mend them after fishing operations, the honorary secretary, Red Cross, Pudukottai, J. Raja Mohamed informed.

Though there were no casualties and the damage to properties being lesser in the coastal district of Pudukottai when compared with other coastal districts when the tsunami struck in 2004, yet the little damage caused much effect on the community, Dr.Mohamed said.

he works have been targeted to be completed before the onset of the monsoon. The projects have been taken up to create additional facilities in the economically backward coastal villages. Once the crab fattening unit is commissioned, it would help in additional income generation, Dr. Mohamed said. The Red Cross has been running crèches in places including Manamelkudi, V. Pudhukudi and Mimisal.