Social issues confronted by the re-settlers of Tsunami-affected areas in Hambantota district

Abstract

On 26" December 2004 tsunami incident has created lots of social consequences in Hambantotata district. As a result of that, this calamity more than 55000 people were affected directly or indirectly and nearly 3200 houses were completely or partially destroyed. Among them 788 houses were fully damaged within 100 meters and another 386 houses were partially damaged within 100m distance. And on the other hand 809 houses were fully and 1220 houses were partially damaged beyond the 100 m distance. In this research main aim was to identify the social and their correlated issues such as economical, cultural, educational problems. In addition this research considered the NGOs and Government intervention in the resettlement. Throughout the research data were collected from key persons, Government officers, other special organization such as District Recovery and Development Unit [ DRDU ] — Hambantota have responsibility.

In this research, all re-settlement schemes in the Hambantota district have been visited. Stratified sampling methods were used for collecting the data. Conducted the formal group discussion in every housing scheme with the assistance of Grama Niladhari, Samurdhi niladhari and some educated re-settlers, clergy and other important persons in the GS division where housing schemes are situated. Further data were collected from key informants such as Divisional Secretaries, Social Service Officer, DRDU Coordinators, and Chief incumbents of the temples and other religious reverend hoods. Personally, those people were interviewed and collected the details of existing situations and their experiences in past rehabilitation and reconstruction activities, So woman is the person who controls house expenses, so she is in pathetic situation because of the above mentioned narcotic menace. Socially the severe problem that re-settlers suffer, is the impact arisen due to loiter and thugs. The situation has been created because the most re-settlers are from various areas with different culture manner and mental attitudes. In the resettlement schemes targeted persons for the questioner were women mostly and women play the major role in housing scheme in every aspect. As the major problems, that the women face, are economical difficulties for covering their expenses with regards to children’s education, problems arisen from loiters, thugs and of their husband.

The NGOs have done very important and yeomen service on behalf of the re-settlers but construction of houses is not up to the hopes expected by the re-settlers. They have contributed means for above 67% of beneficiaries for uplifting their livelihood such as creating awareness of self-employment of supplying instrument and giving vocational and technical training for strengthening their living conditions, at certain instance, re-settlers have been given loans under low interest of with no interest. So re-settlers have thankful attitudes towards the role that has been played by NGOs

Tsunami victims are thanking the government for the immediate relief granted at the very beginning of the disaster through good office of district, divisional secretaries and other government officers who curbed down malpractices and irregularities that could have occurred. So binding bond of good faith between the government and the people was will cemented. Key words: Re-settler’s social, cultural, economical issues.