Post-tsunami ILO initiatives

In response to the challenges posed by the tsunami disaster of December 2004, the ILO, in consultation with our constituents, initiated action programmes in a modest way to contribute to recovery and rehablitation efforts through and with social partners in India. Initiatives have included:

• Immediate extension of activities of existing ILO programme in Tamil Nadu. A skills development training programme for women from tsunami-affected fisher communities was initiated. Two training and production units were established in Pudupattinam and Oyalikupaam hamlets in Kalpakkam near Chennai. 84 fisher women from the two affected hamlets were trained in incense stick production in the first phase followed by 86 women trainees in the second unit. Following the successof these two units, 200 women from the tsunami-affected Nagapattinam District are to be trained in incense stick production over a month-long period beginning end-May 2005. The reason for selection of incense stick production was the existence of local market demand for the product. The women who have been trained by the ILO project are able to earn incomes above the prescribed statutory daily minimum wage in the State. Additionally, the local partner trade union organization is establishing a tie-up with the Indian Tobacco Company (ITC) hotel chain for sustainable market linkages;
• After extensive discussions with employers organizations at the national and local levels, pilot activities on identified areas for ILO/employers collaboration (with collaboration of 3 employers organizations) in affected areas have started. These areas of work are: facilitating initiatives for livelihoods; entrepreneurship development, including Start/Improve Your Business programmes, Business Development Services, specially for women and young people; and working with local associations of trade and industry.
• After extensive discussions with workers organizations at the national and local levels, pilot activities on identified areas (training/skills development for income generation and alternative livelihoods, awareness creation on available government and other schemes, self-help groups, etc.) for ILO/workers collaboration have been initiated at two levels: (i) individually with each of the workers organizations; and (ii) joint activities of the five organizations through formation of a confederation;
• Operationalization of some key recommendations of the Ministry of Labour and Employment/ILO Study on National Employment Service in 3 affected States. Activities will focus on revamping 3 existing employment exchanges to replicable models with expansion of scope of their services to the informal economy and technical capacity building and training of relevant staff.

A Joint UNDP/ILO mission was undertaken in selected areas during the last week of May-first week of June 2005 to formulate an area-based programme for alternative (non-fishing) livelihoods.