Brief Profile of Mr. Umashankar

I served in Mayiladuthurai Revenue Division as its Sub Collector during Aug 1992 to January 1994. This revenue division constitutes 50% of Nagapattinam district. Nagapattinam district is prone for cyclones and floods. But never they had faced Tsunami. The entire district is classified by UNDP as "highly disaster prone". I faced a severe cyclone on the night of 3rd December 1993. I was in a hut when the
cyclone hit the district. This happened when I personally went to evacuate the fishermen who refused to come out of their hamlet despite information that the impending cyclone was too severe. But even before I could reach the place (Palayar fishing harbour), the cyclone had hit and I was stranded in the middle of nowhere at 0130 hrs. I had led the team of officials in the rescue and rehabilitation operation during the next one month.

Mayiladuthurai division has a long coast line. The fishermen used to take me into the high seas using Catamaran and then motor boat. I could recall one such boat ride with my younger sister Sahayarani Latha (who is at present working in CISCO, CA- also
a member of VIDE) when she was into the 9th month of her pregnancy. My
wife was also there. It was a risky decision. When I asked my sister she boldly said she would join the ride. It was not something like you just get into the motor boat from a jetty or harbor. Poompuhar does not have any such jetty or harbor. One has to go in the Catamaran which is simply a cluster of 4-5 wood logs tied with rope. You are
open to the waves when the catamaran moves against the waves. But Latha dared to join the trip. The fishermen gave the green signal by stating that her safety was their prime responsibility. True to their words, the fishermen formed a protective ring around Latha by swimming along the Catamaran, by her side. They gently lifted her into the motor boat which was anchored at 100 metres distance from the shore.
After an hour's trip we came back. The return trip was also an equally exciting one on the Catamaran.After we reached the shore Latha wanted the Catamaran ride again!

Looking back, I feel that I had taken a huge risk on that day. But the fishermen never made us feel that it was a risky proposition. We had undergone similar experiences quite often subsequently too. This had developed into special relationship with the entire fishermen community. They also felt at home in my office.

The very same lovely people have suffered a blow from the ocean which was quite unexpected. It would take some time to reconcile to the reality. They gave such a
confidence against huge waves that lifted the Catamaran almost toppling it. But today they need someone to tell them that Tsunami would not be there again. Or even if it is there it would not kill them. This requires lot of ground work. We need to build Tsunami shelters in each and every fishing village. And a good Tsunami alert system. I believe the Government of India had decided to spend Rs.125 crores on such a warning system. A late realization indeed. 30 years ago in the entire cyclone prone Nagapattinam coast, the EEC constructed Cyclone shelters which are round in shape and can withstand any amount of wind. As Sub Collector, every year during
September to December I used to visit these cyclone shelters to see whether they were in good condition or not. A similar shelter has to be built in each and every village to protect the fishermen from Tsunami waves. But the design should be different. And of course the size also.

The Tsunami shelters should be designed to double as community centre/school/ Primary Health sub centre/ TV room and so on. Unlike the cyclone centers which are located away from the main habitat of the fishermen colonies, the Tsunami shelters have to be built in the middle of the fishermen habitats.

This is one of the first assurances which the fishermen would expect from the rest of the world.