RESPONSE -- 1:

ESTATE WORKERS FROM NORTH HELP GAJA CYCLONE VICTIMS

By P S SUNDAR

Humane approach knows no language, caste, creed, community or colour barriers as the gesture of migrants from North India working in tea plantations in The Nilgiris shows.

“Our workers from Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand besides Nepal have joined their Tamil counterparts, office and factory staff and management in sacrificing their two days wages to contribute their mite for the rehabilitation of the Gaja cyclone victims of delta districts”, G Udayakumar, Director, Avataa Beverages, Billimalai Estate, told me.

“These workers themselves belong to poor economic background and have migrated to the plantations in The Nilgiris from their far-away homes as they have nothing to depend on there for a decent living.   But, when we explained the plight of the Gaja cyclone victims in the distant delta districts, they responded positively and instantaneously”, said a visibly moved Udayakumar.

“To begin with, as per the desire of the cyclone victims in the villages where power supply is yet to be restored, we have distributed directly, in co-ordination with R Rajarathinam of Rotary Club of Kumbakonam, 1,000 torches with batteries at a cost of ` one lakh”, he disclosed.

“Rajarathinam is in the process of identifying more areas where this help is required and we will extend the same there as well”, he added.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)