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Cyclone that hit Coastal and Delta Districts in Tamilnadu

Gaja cyclone has destroyed the future, people have built over by many years of their hard work. People of the Delta districts in Tamilnadu have lost the belongings at home and their source of income in the fields: Cultivation. They are not able to come to terms with the reality that they have lost everything. The Delta districts are known for paddy cultivation. After the issue of Cauvery and the uncertainly over the flow of water, most people have moved from paddy cultivation to cultivation of coconut trees, teak wood and red sandal wood trees. I know from my own experience that coconut trees can bend even reaching the ground, but they will not break. But here, in the Delta districts even the coconut trees have been broken by the cruel and ruthless Gaja Cyclone.

The extent of devastation is so much that it would take months and years for the life to return to normalcy. The scar that Gaja has left behind will take time to heal. When the food packets were distributed by Bon Secours College, Thanjavur, children, women and men were running to collect. Men were in tears explaining the loss. The Bon Secours sisters were in tears when we had a meeting with them in their Provincial House, Thanjavur as they explained the suffering of the people they witnessed.

After seeing the devastation and hearing from people who suffered loss, we, the Franciscan Family in Chennai, had meeting on 25th November 2018. In that meeting, we have decided to collect relief materials from Franciscan Family who are working in Chennai. During that meeting, it was decided that Sr. Anthoniammal FBS, Br. Victor Singarayar OFS, Sr. Arul Mary FMM, Br. Christy OFS and I would go to the Franciscan Congregations to collect relief materials. The response that we have received from Franciscan Family in Chennai is overwhelming. Everyone that we met so far has responded very positively. We are hoping to take the relief materials by this Friday. Br. Josephraj, Nesakkaram, Chennai

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