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Robin Raina Foundation Adopts Two Tsunami Hit Villages In Terms of Education And Livelihood For The Under-privileged
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ATLANTA----March 15, 2005 - Robin Raina Foundation (RRF) today announced that it has decided to adopt two tsunami hit villages in the coastal district of Kanyakumari in India, namely Kottilpadu and Pudur in terms of initiating livelihood and education.
This decision was made after the RRF founder Robin Raina’s visit to these tsunami hit villages and detailed discussions with the Kanyakumari district collector’s office and Social Change and Development (SCAD), the NGO incharge of these two villages, in terms of providing tsunami relief.
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Tsunami devastation in Kottilpadu
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RRF founder with tsunami victims
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RRF also announced that it has signed an agreement with Social Change and Development (SCAD), a registered NGO in Tamil Nadu to partner and work together on a number of Tsunami relief projects in terms of
Adopting two villages, namely Kottilpadu and Pudur in terms of initiating livelihood and education; and
Building seventeen (17) anganwadis – schools for the underprivileged children to provide education across the tsunami affected villages in the entire coastal belt of Kanyakumari at a cost of approximately $60,000
In addition during RRF Founder Robin’s visit to these villages, RRF also paid a sum of $28,000 for immediate cash disbursement to families in these two villages, towards the buying of rations.
Kottilpadu and Pudur are pre-dominantly Christian villages encompassing 1430 families with fishing as the primary occupation. Kottilpadu is considered the most effected village in Kanyakumari district, in terms of devastation caused by the tsunami disaster.
RRF Founder Robin Raina said: “Firstly, I must commend the work put in by the district collector’s office in Kanyakumari led by Mr. Sunil Paliwal. I was quite impressed by the sincerity and the expanse of effort put in by them, towards restoring basic amenities like electricity, water, sanitation and shelter for people.”
He added: “It is extremely important to complement the effort of the local administration, by helping them in their bid to restore education facilities for the under-privileged and provide boats, engines and nets for the fishermen families - so that these families can have a means to generate future livelihood on their own.”
Robin further added: “ Such disasters require ongoing rehabilitation for long periods of time and we at RRF are committed to working with the local government to complement that effort at rehabilitating these 1430 families.”
RRF also issued an appeal asking for donations to the RRF Tsunami Relief Fund. Donations in favor of “Robin Raina Foundation – Tsunami Relief Fund” can be sent to:
Attention: P. Kumar
Robin Raina Foundation
2075 Lake Shore Landing
Alpharetta, GA 30005
All contributions would be 100% exempt from taxes, as RRF is a 501© charity.
About Kottilpadu and Pudur
On 26th December 2004 at 9.25 am, the Tsunami devastation impacted 710 families in Pudur and 720 families in Kottilpadu, in terms of causing destruction of life, houses, livelihood and creating unbearable under-privileged conditions for the survivors. Both these villages are primarily Christian community coastal areas in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, India. Fishing is the primary occupation known to people in these villages.
Nearly 8802 people live in these two villages.
Previously all the houses in this village were thatched houses, but over the last few years preceding tsunami, these were restructured by the people into terrace and tiled houses.
The socio – economic conditions are poor in these villages with all the families being solely dependent on the sea in terms of fishing.
The literacy rates in these village are as low as 30% at present.
A middle school with a number of anganwadis is the only means of education in the village.
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S.No.
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Particulars
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Numbers in Pudur
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Numbers in Kottilpadu
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1.
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Population - Total
Male
Female
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4312
2116
2196
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4490
2148
2342
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2.
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Number of families
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710
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720
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3.
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Houses
Destroyed
Damaged
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56
145
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480
160
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4.
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Death: Total
Adult – Male
Female
Children
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12
4
7
1
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189
32
52
105
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5.
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Missing Persons
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2
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13
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6.
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Orphaned
Partial
Fully
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NIL
NIL
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22
3
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7.
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Boats damaged
Catamarans
Vallam (Fiber)
Vallam (Wood)
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572
45
-
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317
25
3
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8.
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Nets Damaged
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858
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967
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9.
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Engines Damaged
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160
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90
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About Robin Raina Foundation
A 501(c) charity, Raina foundation has been setup to raise funds for work to be carried out to empower children who need help around the world. The foundation's focus is to make a difference in the lives of children - who are handicapped, blind, mentally challenged, sick or in need of urgent medical help and underprivileged kids who need education.
RRF Contacts:
Sanjay Supehia, (678)517-8688
ssupehia@rainafoundation.com
Ashish Arora, (678)910-2604
aarora@rainafoundation.com
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Celebrity speaks
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I thank Robin Raina foundation for putting tremendous effort in bringing light, hope, comfort, and education to children in need.
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