The Hindu Business Line : Rehabilitating tsunami victims

This is with reference to the article, "Swaminathan foundation proposes new approach to rehabilitate tsunami victims" (Business Line, January 11). As pointed out, the tsunami has also damaged farmlands by increasing soil salinity.

Unless this problem is immediately attended to and remedial measures taken, cultivation may not be possible in these lands.

Coastal ecological surveys, warning systems and the like are absolutely necessary to guard against the possible tsunamis in the future.

However, rehabilitation through food for work is not advisable and it will only hamper relief work.

Instead, the government could provide material for coastal housing, especially when rehabilitating the victims.

Besides having their boats and nets repaired, fishermen could also be provided with new boats as early as possible.

In fact, the Union Minister for Science and Technology, Mr Kapil Sibal, has said that he was considering providing fishermen with new fibre-glass boats.

That is commendable and he should take urgent measures so that the boats reach the fishermen without delay.

A. Jacob Sahayam

Thiruvananthapuram

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