India: Better life three years on

Chellema, her husband and four-old-son Prasad outside their new brick house built with the help of Caritas India, south east India, August 2007 [Judith Rees]

Before the tsunami, Chellema was living in a small house made of palm leaves that was frequently damaged by monsoons. Now she has moved into a larger brick house with her family

“We lived in bonded labour,” explained Chellema, a 26-year-old mother of four living in Poovanthopu village in south-east India.

“Every time I needed a new roof for our house, or needed to pay school fees I would borrow the money, then work for months to pay off the debt.”

Before the tsunami that hit the countries around the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004, Chellema worked harvesting salt on the south-east coast of India, earning only 30 rupees (less than $1) per day.

She has worked in bonded labour most of her life, paying off debts to the salt-pan owner in order to look after her family.

The caste system

As Dalits – or “untouchables” – Chellema and her family are seen as the lowest of the low in the Hindu caste system.

“Even in school our children are sometimes treated badly. The caste system used to be very cruel – now it’s not so bad. But we’re still not allowed to visit the next village.”

After the tsunami, Chellama was out of work for seven months, as the salt pans were flooded and littered with debris.

Living in a tiny house made of palm leaves on land prone to flooding, she had to borrow money to repair her palm-leaf roof, which was often damaged during the monsoon season.

To pay off the debt, she was bonded into months of back-breaking work.

Building two years on

In October 2006, Chellema was employed to build new houses in her village by a construction company contracted by Caritas India, a CAFOD partner.

“Construction work is not tiring compared to salt-pan work,” said Chellema, who despite her petite frame can carry a pile of bricks on her head.

Chellema outside her thatched, palm-leaf house which was frequently damaged during the monsoon season, south east India, October 2006. [Noel Gavin]

After months of hard work, and nearly three years after the tsunami hit, Caritas India has built 150 new brick houses for the community, and Chellema and her family have moved into number 24.

“This house is better,” she explained, comparing it to her old palm-leaf home, “because it’s sturdier and we don’t have to spend money replacing the thatch.”

With support from CAFOD, Caritas India has built 1,110 houses in Tamil Nadu, along with 16 net and fish-drying yards.

“Whenever a disaster happens, it is important for us, here at CAFOD, to make sure help reaches those who need it most,” Pete Garratt, CAFOD’s humanitarian officer, explains.

“Otherwise the most vulnerable people can be overlooked, or left out of the process.

“In Poovanthopu, Caritas India have made a real difference to people’s lives. And in lots of ways, for these poorest people, their standard of living is now better than before the tsunami.”

A brighter future

Chellema can now look forward to a better future for her children

“I want my children to continue studying and get good jobs, so they don’t have to work in the saltpans like me and my husband.

“When help came, it was like help from the gods. Thank you to everyone who made my new home possible.”