Whats the overall position on tsunami relief work?
We have a very long coastline — 187 kilometres — and there was destruction for a kilometre from the seashore. So the devastation was over an area of 187 square kms. In the first stage it was removal and disposal of bodies. Then it was feeding the people. In the second stage we constructed temporary shelters. Then we cleared the harbour. That work is still going on. We have also built a temporary bridge with the debris to connect Akkaraipettai with the town. We have opened two homes for children orphaned by the tsunami. One for kids and one for adolescent girls.India’s Ground Zero Power supply has been restored and the road is being laid. Building the infrastructure is our priority. We are also concentrating on agriculture. A lot of land has been spoilt because of salt water. And the labourers have lost their jobs. We must not only help them get back their livelihood but also upgrade their livelihood. How much of your time are you devoting to tsunami work? A lot of our time is still d
