This organization is very new, formed by Achama Isaac, formerly of NGO Coordination Center. In fact, we were her first visitors. She started this organization because she wanted to focus on issues such as psychosocial support and alternate -livelihood training for women. In the field of psychosocial support she has set up a toll-free suicide-prevention hotline. They have executed many small projects, like providing icebox and tools for fishermen, providing refrigerator and some provisions so that a small shop can be established. They have numerous projects that are geared towards income-generation. She has provided us with a list of livelihood projects, the cost and the expected annual income after completion of the project.
On a larger scale, they are planning on training women in the field of construction, specifically electricals (putting up light and fan fixtures), carpentry (fixing door knobs latches), etc. They have spoken to ITI (Indian Technical Institute) to provide training for these women. Initially, it will be a ‘train the trainer’ program where a group of 20 women will be trained in all the work. They will in turn train others in specific groups. ITI is doing the initial training at no cost, provided the Nagapattinam Collector okays it. Achama foresees no problem with getting the Collector’s consent.
Just as they were about to distribute ice-boxes for secondary fishermen one of the fishermen died of a heart attack. The family asked if they could sell that ice-box and use the money for the funeral services. When Phoenix was hesitating on this issue the fishermen themselves came up with a plan not to sell it. Instead they were going to train the son in storing and selling fish.
