ACT Evaluation Workshop cum Alliance Meeting took place at Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu, India from 6th to 8th March 2006. All the three implementing partners of ACT in India namely Lutheran World Service India, CASA and UELCI participated. The Evaluation team headed by Hermann and Ms.Callie Long, Communication Officer – ACT International Coordinating Office, Geneva were there through out the workshop and facilitating the deliberations on the Real time phase II evaluation. Few representatives from the Donor Agencies were also present and threw lights on the topics discussed. There were group presentations on the impact of the rehabilitation process, partners’ activities and on the Terms of Reference.

Henry from ICCO, Netherlands, Colleen Hodge, National Council of Churches in Australia, representing ACT Alliance and Michelle Yonetani from ACT Sri Lanka visited the operational areas of the ACT implementing partners in India. Following this, a Communication Workshop was also organised by Ms. Callie Long and participants from ACT implementing organisations participated in the programme. .....

The Irular community residing in M.G.R. Nagar is also affected by the deadly Tsunami. M.G.R Nagar witnessed the dedication ceremony of 24 houses on March 25, 2006. The Government permitted UELCI to help the stranded inhabitants of that area. Building of houses for the people was done in two phases – 1st phase witnessed 7 houses dedicated on February 15, 2006 by Mag. Barbara Gotsch, Programme Coordinator - Diakonie International Humanitarian Aid and the remaining 17 were dedicated as a part of the 2nd phase on March 25, 2006. Ten years insurance for these houses was also handed over to the beneficiaries. Mr. Shanmugam, District Revenue Officer, Mr. Arun Roy, Sub-Collector, Rev. Chandran Paul Martin, Executive Secretary, UELCI, Rev. Dr. A.G. Augustine Jayakumar, Director, Division of Social Action and other government officials were present in the ceremony. .....

Almost 502 temporary shelters in Nagapattinam district where the Tsunami survivors were living, caught fire and turned to ashes (reasons unknown) on July 10, 2006. All their belongings including the dresses, household items, books, money, etc were entirely ruined. This mishap left the people with no shelter. One fire service man was reported to be killed and few others injured in the accident. The people are temporarily sheltered in camps. The victims include 100 families for whom UELCI is constructing permanent shelters. UELCI with the help of ACT supplied lunch packets to 1000 people at the camp and also relief materials consisting of food items, clothes and utensils to 285 families. This timely help rendered by ACT is laudable......