Housing Project Update
Amritapuri, India
August 28, 2005
Construction
of new homes in the Alappuzha district, Kerala is complete. To date
150 homes have been built. About 88 homes were constructed and given
to the local Kerala government for distribution to the affected
tsunami victims in June 2005. The last 62 homes have now been completed.
They will be handed over to the government in the coming weeks.
The most recent homes constructed are 2 storeys tall as requested
by the recipients.
Many
of the houses constructed in the Alappuzha district are very isolated,
some located on small islands. Needless to say, the logistical challenges
involved in transporting all the building supplies needed were extreme,
due lack of access.
These
difficulties were overcome by constructing mini bridges (picture
on your right shows workers transporting supplies over these temporray
bridges).
What did the recipients think of moving into their "new"
homes? Read on...
Seena
and Manmuthan, recipients of a new home said "My original house
was destroyed by the tsunami and we are currently living in a temporary
thatch shack on our property where the new house is being built.
Now that we are getting this house we feel happy and at peace. We
want to come see Amma to express our gratitude for all she has done
for us. Compared to our old house, the new one is beautiful...excellent!"
Sathi's
family inhabits their own small island and their house was destroyed
by the tsunami. When the water came, she was carried away several
hundred meters inland. When asked how she likes this new house Sathi
said, "Not only did I never expect to have a house this nice in
this lifetime, I couldn't have even imagined one this nice in my
next life. I really appreciate all the work and the workers. I know
how hard it is to get the work done in such an isolated place and
I see them working day in and day out with so little food and rest."
|