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Thousands of National Service Scheme (NSS) and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) volunteers have jumped into action and started participating in the relief and rescue work in the Tsunami (huge tidal waves) affected areas of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The fact that this period is the special camping period for the NSS volunteers helped in launching immediate relief operations by the volunteers. For example several campsites at Vishakhapatnam and nearby areas in Andhra Pradesh, and 20 camps in coastal belt of Kerala were converted into relief camps. Hundreds of NSS volunteers were immediately pressed into service of the affected people. The volunteers distributed food at night and now actively participating in preparation of food for the marooned people. The volunteers are assisting local administration and providing psychological and moral support to the victims.
In Tamil Nadu about 1200 NSS volunteers have spread themselves into affected areas with relief material especially in the slums. In Pondichery also, the NSS volunteers have been deployed for relief work and they are constantly working under the supervision of NSS Regional Director.
Similarly the Zonal Directors of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) in the affected States have mobilised youth volunteers of affiliated youth clubs from nearby villages and put them into relief operations. Several youth volunteers, who have recently undergone Disaster Management Training Programme by the NYKS, were alerted and they extended immediate support to the affected people. In collaboration with the district authority, the youth volunteers in the affected areas are starting community kitchens to provide food to the affected people.
Following are the contact numbers of NSS Programme Coordinators looking after the relief sites in different states:
Andhrad Pradesh: Vishakapatnam: Programme Coordinator NSS: Phone: 09848097091.
Guntur: Programme Coordinator NSS: 09849451757
Kerala: NSS Regional Centre: 0471-2481814
Tamil Nadu: NSS Regional Centre: 044-28225709
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