Sub Inspector Satyavani Muthi along with three constables mans the police outpost here. They work in shifts -- four policemen are at the post at any time. Since the tsunami the state government has deputed police personnel at villages on the coast to assist people in case of any emergency.
The policemen help to maintain discipline when the people in the shelters get into fights when relief is distributed. Every day, they spend about five hours overseeing the disbursement of aid such as stoves, vessels, mats etc.
There are many visitors here in the day. In two hours a spiritual guru, nuns from a nearby church, school children and aid workers had come by. A few weeks ago Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visited the tsunami-affected areas. Swami Chidanand Saraswati, who is Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi's guru, also spent time in Devanipattinam near Cuddalore.
Until the government-promised permanent homes are constructed, those rendered homeless by the tsunami will live in the single room huts. 26,000 temporary homes have been constructed so far, C V Shankar, the officer on special duty, relief and rehabilitation, told rediff.com in Chennai.
The district collectors of the three affected districts say the houses will strictly follow the guidelines of being 500 metres away from the shore.
"We are identifying the land and will buy it from private owners if need be," says Nagapattinam Collector J Radhakrishnan. Till the permanent homes are built, the homeless people will call these very basic structures their home.
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