World Vision receives grant for economic rehabilitation of tsunami survivors

Chennai – World Vision India (WVI), a Christian relief and development organization has been awarded a grant of Rs. 1 crore by global pharmaceutical company Pfizer for economic rehabilitation of tsunami survivors.

WVI has launched an ''Economic Rehabilitation Project'' to help tsunami–hit communities in Tamil Nadu regain their economic independence.

According to Pfizer India Managing Director (MD) Kewal Handa, the pharmaceutical company had provided WVI with the grant to disburse to small–scale entrepreneurs who had lost their livelihoods in the calamity.

“The project would help them rebuild their lives and provide a better future for their children,” he said.

WVI National Director Jayakumar Christian said the funds would be made available as micro–finance development loans to the affected.

“The project, to be implemented through WVI's micro–finance arm ''IMPACT,'' is aimed to benefit 1,000 economically–disadvantaged people across eight villages, including Velankanni, Arukattuthurai and Tranquebar in Nagapattinam district,” he added.

Dr. Christian said the WVI was committed to construct 6,074 permanent tsunami houses, of which 105 had been completed and handed over to affected people in Kerala.

WVI was scheduled to complete all tsunami–related rehabilitation measures by March 2007 at a total outlay of USD $ 17 million, he added.

Till date, Pfizer has donated over USD $ 60 million in cash and health products to various relief organizations operating in tsunami–hit areas in the South Asian region.