Already a widow, Menaka's home was destroyed in Cyclone Aila, but CARE and her neighbours have helped her get on her feet.Menaka Mondal is a forty-year old widow who lives alone in a village called Badhaan Colony on an island in southeast India. In 2008 Cyclone Aila destroyed her home, devastated her crops and killed all her livestock. Since then she has had to work hard to rebuild her life.
Previously her three grown up children had all left to seek their fortunes in Kolkata. “I am proud of my sons and daughter,” Menaka says, with tears in her eyes, “I hope that they are successful but I miss them too.”
Badhaan Colony is a beautiful and sleepy place. From the water’s edge, just metres from Menaka’s house, there’s a view of a neighbouring mangrove-covered island inhabited by tigers and other exotic wildlife.
Surrounding the small patch of land that Menaka owns are rice paddies, mango trees and lily-covered ponds. But Badhaan Colony, like the rest of the Sundarbons, is a hazardous place to live too. Each year there are heavy monsoon rains and, from time to time, the area is battered by high winds and cyclones. Menaka has not escaped disaster.
Since Aila struck, CARE has helped Menaka back on to her feet. As a woman living alone and one of the poorest in her village, she was selected to receive livestock and seeds for her garden.
Menaka has a new, stronger house, built by local masons trained in safer building techniques and with materials – including a corrugated iron roof, bricks and cement – donated by CARE.
Now Menaka is getting on with her life. She works for other wealthier neighbours in their homes and fields, earning around 20 Rupees per day. At the same time, she tends to her own garden and her goats. “I am not alone,” she says, “I have neighbours that help me when I need it and CARE has also made a difference.”
CARE is grateful to the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) for the support received to implement Cyclone Aila recovery projects in India and Bangladesh.
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