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One Tata–kerala flood

Relief Initiative

he first batch of Tata Volunteers set out
immediately after the floods toward the end of
T August. TCE’s Santhosh along with volunteers
from other Tata companies and the Tata Disaster Response
Project Managers were on ground zero in the most
affected regions - Wayanad, Idukki (Kerala) & Kodagu camps. Taking a One Tata approach, all Tata companies
(Karnataka). For TCE’s M Santhosh, this was an exercise pooled in resources and volunteers to carry out relief
into the unknown, as he trekked through difficult and rehabilitation work in Kodagu, Karnataka and Kerala.
terrain to distribute relief materials, take a survey of the TCE contributed to the relief measures with a cash
damage for future planning, etc. Presently, he is back to donation, employees volunteered a day’s salary to the
the comforts of his home and work. He had this to say cause and volunteers pitched in during the relief phase.
about the experience.
As the Disaster Management operations move to the
The floods in Kerala was the worst of its kind with a death rehabilitation phase, TCE will continue to contribute by
toll of about 417 people, 8.69 lakh people in 2,287 relief providing required engineering services.

Volunteering with The Disaster Response team was one of the best moments of my life. Being able to reach
out where nobody cares to go, I went into distant tribal settlements navigating hours through dense forest
with a slight fear in me with no knowledge of how they would react to us as no one had reached them for over
a week; it changed the way my thoughts are of such settlements now. I think we have many humane values
that we could learn from them–Fairness, equability, lack of slightest greed, level headedness, happiness to
help others with whatever they have and co-exist. To see the smile and sense of relief when we bring help to
isolated tribal settlements in deep forest area is a life time enriching experience in the true sense.

- Santhosh M.