Thursday, June 30 2005 15:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Nagapattinam (TN): Six-months after the Tsunami brought death and devastation to this coastal town, the President, A P J Abdul Kalam, today (Jun 30, 2005) visited the two worst hit fishing hamlets in Nagapattinam, where over 3000 people have died in the killer waves, giving a healing touch to the victims.

The President, who attended about seven different functions on his whistle stop tour, used the occasion to inspire children to fight their way up in life, appreciated the alternative livelihood projects by women and assured action on the demands of fishermen on Tsunami-rehabilitation.

"Their (tsunami-victims) will power to live is the most beautiful thing I have come across, "Kalam told reporters at Keechankuppam, where he addressed about 50 representatives of fishermen from eight coastal villages."

The self determination of the people and their will to overcome agony and achieve success is really beautiful," he said.

Kalam, who began by offering his condolences (on the tragedy) to the fisher-folk, said the Government would provide all necessary assistance for the Tsunami victims.

Speaking in Tamil, Kalam, who hails from Rameshwaram, said the administration had completed most of the rehabilitation work. Permanent houses would also be constructed for the Tsunami victims, he said.

Asking the fishermen not to be afraid of the waves, the President said that India, along with Russia and Iceland, would establish a Tsunami-warning system, which would help detect the Tsunami at least four hours in advance.

A Jayapal, a spokesman for the villagers, submitted a memorandum to the President, urging his assistance on several demands, including the setting up of a fishing harbour at Nagapattinam, a medical college and fisheries college in the region and scrapping of the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project, which they fear would wipe out fisheries resources.

Later, at another function at Akkaraipettai hamlet, organized by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on the 'Kalam Caliper Project', the President said he was happy to find that 117 polio-affected children of Tsunami hit regions have been fitted with calipers.

Mingling freely with children, Kalam also recited a poem on the waves, with the children repeating each line. "Waves are your friends, never be afraid of the waves, sometimes they become unfriendly, but that is not a common phenomenon," he recited.

The President also visited an exhibition of the products and artefacts made by women Self-Help Groups as part of the 'Livelihood project for the Tsunami-affected'.

The fishermen, who have turned to alternative lifelihood means after the Tsunami, are successfully marketing a range of goods, including terracotta products, footwear and leather products, perfume candles, eco-friendly paper products, coir products and chalk pieces.