Guwahati (AsiaNews/ICNS) Residents of Mizoram have donated tonnes of bamboo to tsunami victims to use in building new homes.
A train carrying some 90,000 tonnes of bamboo left a few days ago for Tamil Nadu. At the sending off ceremony, Mizoram Minister of the Environment and Forest R. Lalthangliana explained the gesture quoting the Bible: "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."
With a population of 891,000 people85 per cent Christianthe north-eastern Indian state of Mizoram is one of the least populated states of the Union; tribal Mizos are its largest ethnic group.
Several local groups were involved in the aid operation: the Young Mizo Association collected bamboo from ordinary people across the state; various Mizoram government departments provided trucks free for bringing the bamboo to the railway station; the Northeast Frontier Railway transported it to its destination for free; ten Mizoram artisans went along with the cargo to Tamil Nadu where they are to teach tsunami survivors how to use this material to build housing.
Mizoram authorities are planning to send another consignment of bamboo to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Almost three months after the tragic event, the World Bank has estimated that the tsunami has cost India some US$ 1.2 billion: US$ 575 million in lost and damaged property and US$ 450 million in lost production.
Tamil Nadu was the worst hit area; losses there are estimated at US$ 868 million. (LF)