Message: 1
Date: 20 Jul 2004 17:19:43 -0000
From: "Mani Manivannan - President"

Subject: RE: Tamil Manram appeals for aid to KumbakoNam school fire victims

Dear Friends,

We are grateful to the generous members who have already responded to this appeal from the Tamil Manram by sending in their checks. The Collector of Thanjavur has responded to our offer of support (see http://www.bayareatamilmanram.org ).
One of the first life-members of Tamil Manram, Dr. S. S. Rajaram, is currently in Tamil Nadu and he is sending in his first-hand reports. According to him, the burn victims are being treated by first rate hospitals like JIPMER-Pondicherry, CMC-Vellore, Apollo Hospitals of Madras, MMC-Madras in addition to Thanjavur Hospital.

Right now, the medical care is quite adequate. But Dr. Rajaram cautions that more serious care will be need once the burn injuries start healing. The children will be needing skin grafting (Plastic surgery) and intense physio and psycho therapy. Each child will need to be evaluated to see what percentage of skin surface has been affected and only then the true cost will be known.

As communicated earlier, we are working with FeTNA (Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America), a non-profit charity and is an umbrella organization of most of the Tamil associations in America and Canada in this effort. FeTNA has announced its plan of action and the agencies through which service will be delivered in India.

1. What is the plan of action? Short term
To provide all possible help for the surviving children who are burn victims - to bring them to the normal life condition as much as possible. (About 10 to 15 with 5 of the children in critical condition according to Tanjore Medical College).

Long term
Provide help to survey the rest of the schools in and around Kumbakonam as the first step for safety standards and procedures with qualified, trained and experienced paid volunteers based on funding.
Utilize the obtained information along with the recommendations from Technical professionals and recommend the same to the local, state and central govt. of India to prevent future mishaps.
Follow up with local NGOs or some of the Tamil Charitable organization - our counter parts in USA already involved in charitable and volunteer work in Tamil Nadu

2. Through whom the funding will be spent
Contacts were made with local medical group (Tanjore Medical College) and Charitable organizations (Lions Club, Rotary Club) in Kumbakonam regarding this mishap and their recommendations.
Further efforts will be made to contact few of the local NGOs
Funding will be distributed to these organizations and plan to follow up through our fraternal charitable organization in USA, already involved in charitable and volunteer work in Tamil Nadu

3. To whom the donations have to be addressed and sent?

Please make out a check for FeTNA, specify "Fire Relief - Kumbakonam" in the Memo and mail the check to:
c/o Mani M. Manivannan President,
Bay Area Tamil Manram,
38871 Jonquil Drive
Newark, CA 94560

Donations to the Fire Relief fund is tax deductible and you will receive an acknowledgement from FeTNA.
To speed up relief plans, please e-mail your "Pledge amount" and send your contributions ASAP. (We thank all those individuals who have already pledged to help the victims). Send your pledge e-mails to president@bayareatamilmanram.org

Thanks,
Regards,
Mani M. Manivannan President,
Bay Area Tamil Manram
www.bayareatamilmanram.org
Serving the community since 1980