PUDUCHERRY: Tsunamika, the doll which provided a healing touch to the people affected by the trauma of tsunami, has begun her campaign for protection of coast and marine life in four government schools, two each in Puducherry and Tamilnadu.
Organised by Pondy CAN, a citizens network and Auroville, the coastal yatra for the protection of coastal and marine environment and the health, homes and livelihood of coastal communities began at Satyalayam School, Dubrayapet, Vambakeerapalayam. Following this, it moved to NKC Government School, Kurusukuppam, Government Primary School, Nadukuppam, and Chinnamudialiarchavady Government School in Tamilnadu. Tsunamika travelled by van and reached Bharat Nivas, Auroville, in the evening.
Skits were presented by a group of artistes from Komali, Auroville, where the character Tsunamika, along with Santa Claus, explained the ill-effects of environmental and coastal pollution. The idea is to involve the students and reach out to the community for keeping the coast and environment clean, said Probir Banerjee of Pondy CAN.
Tsunamika emerged as a response to the devastation brought about by the tsunami on December 26, 2004. Initiated by Uma Prajapathy of Upsana in the international township of Auroville, as a way of healing the trauma caused, hundreds of fisherwomen were trained to make little dolls out of leftover fabric. Soon the project evolved into a livelihood option for them. More than six million dolls were made and distributed across 80 nations through a global network of countless volunteers.