No material compensation or rehabilitation scheme would have made their tsunami-shattered lives cheerful again.

But the arrival of twins Ekanathan and Amritakripa made all the difference in the life of Sreejith and Liji, who lost eight-year-old Ammu and four-year-old Kalidas in the deadly waves that struck the coastal hamlet of Alappad two years back, claiming 140 lives and devastating hundreds of families.

The gentle, soothing hum of a lullaby returned to their home two months back. The Sreejith-Liji pair were among three couples fortunate to have children after their tiny ones were claimed by the tsunami. Some of them had lost all hope as the women had already undergone sterilisation. But it was the Amritanandamayi Mutt that kindled a ray of hope in their darkened lives. The couples were counselled and re-canalisation surgery was performed to help them conceive again.

Tsunami opens floodgates of employment opportunities

PORAYAR: The has opened avenues of employment in both the organised and the unorganised sector in Tamil Nadu’s Nagapattinam district, one of the areas hit hardest by the disaster. Prior to the tsunami, qualified youth, especially those who had done courses in Masters in Social Welfare (MSW), commerce, cooperation and English literature could hardly find a job in the district. But now, candidates with these degrees are the most sought after ones. Numerous NGOs carrying out rehabilitation operations in the area are hunting for qualified persons to interact with survivors and to manage projects, official sources said. Candidates with MSW degrees get monthly salaries ranging from Rs 7,000 to 15,000 depending on the size of projects. Those who have been selected as project managers get a handsome pay of Rs 25,000 to 30,000, the sources said. Those who have good communication skills in English get higher pay packages than others. For accounting purposes, the NGOs have recruited a large number of graduates and postgraduates as well as retired bank employees. Many retired officials are working as project directors and draw hefty pay packages.