Sangh Samachar
VHP gifts boats to fishermen
FOC
Swami Vivekananda Rural Development Society, a unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), handed over mechanised boats to tsunami-hit fishermen of Tamil Nadu. The function was held on July 29 at Tharangambadi seashore for the distribution of 12 boats equipped with modern engines and costly nets to the victims of Tharangambadi, Kodiampalayam and Pazhiaiyar areas. Amidst an impressive gathering of fishermen of respective villages and Panchayat chiefs, the Collector of Nagapattinam, Dr J. Radhakrishnan distributed the boats. The Collector praised the will-power of the fishermen community, which surmounted all the hardships and has started looking optimistically at the future. He lauded the efforts of Swami Vivekananda Rural Development Society in doing its part for the suffering people. He assured the fishermen that constructing houses would be the top priority for the government.
Shri S. Vedantam, executive secretary of the Society, who presided over the function, thanked the Collector for his participation in the function. He said in the face of relief work by many Indian and foreign NGOs, care should be taken that the fishermen should not be forced to give up their culture, religion and traditions in return of the benefits they get.
Similar functions were organised on July 30 at Nambiar Nagar and on July 31 at Keezhamoovar-karai and Thirumullaivayil. The Additional Collector of Nagapattinam, Shri Ranvir Prasad distributed five boats to the victims. It is to be noted that VHP President Shri Ashok Singhal had already distributed five boats to the victims in February this year.
Similarly, five boats were distributed to the victims of Keezhamoovarkarai. Shri Ashok Singhal had distributed five boats here also in February. Local Tehasildar, Shri Gopal was the chief guest at the function. Eights boats were distributed to the victims of Thirumullaivayil in the evening. After the function, the boats were launched into the sea after performing pooja and prayers to the Sea God. The donations from the Indian Temple Association, USA, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad members in United States as well as Jhandewala Temple Society, New Delhi, enabled the Swami Vivekananda Rural Development Society to gift 45 boats to seven villages, all costing about Rs one crore.
