The Tata Group has committed people, material and other resources to helping the many families devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami

In keeping with its tradition of helping those devastated by natural disasters, the Tata Group has responded to the Indian Ocean tsunami that has thrown many Asian lives asunder.

Again, in keeping with its tradition, the group has extended its solidarity to the tsunami-affected in a way that is unique to it. Senior executives of the Tatas have formed a steering committee to oversee the relief measures. Instead of simply donating to various funds and agencies, the group has employed its own resources and got directly involved in relief and rehabilitation.

The Tata Relief Committee (TRC) and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences is carrying out a survey to correctly assess the needs in the ravaged regions. The group has made a commitment not only towards immediate relief but is also emphasising long- term rehabilitation for livelihood and income generation. It will focus on providing boats and fishing equipment, setting up fishing cooperatives, and rebuilding homes and social institutions to help bring disrupted lives back to a semblance of normalcy.

TRC, which functions under the aegis of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, has identified three regions — Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Kanyakumari, all in Tamil Nadu — for immediate relief. The major Tata companies operating in the state have pooled their resources for this effort. Currently, 70 volunteers have formed a task force to distribute relief kits that include essential equipment. The aim is to distribute the material to some 14,000 families.

The Tata Group has also employed earth-moving equipment to clear the debris. To meet the acute need of potable water in Tamil Nadu and the Andaman and Nicobar islands, Tata Projects has designed a mobile desalination plant that has been moved to the affected districts. Temporary crèches for children have been set up with the help of Childline, a non-governmental organisation.

In the long run, the group hopes to not only re-establish what the villagers have lost but also better it.

Uploaded on January 17, 2005