Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women Ltd selected CReNIEO as its nodal agency for the development of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Thiurvallur District. A five year agreement was signed between the Centre and the Corporation.

There are 290 self help groups in the villages consisting of 4505 members and they have saved up to Rs. 1, 42, 24, 820 in the banks.

These groups have been able to give loans for micro enterprises and are also entitled for loans from the banks. They also take active part in the administration of the village affairs. Apart from savings, the women have taken initiatives for accessing government schemes like pension, maternity allowance, pattas for houses in joint names, bank loans, group houses, drinking water, schools, transformers, loans for fishing gears and accessing Tsunami relief packages from the government.

Eco-Restoration of Pulicat Lake with Fisherfolk participation This WWF-UK pilot project was implemented from 1997-1999 with the objective of restoring the declining ecology of the Pulicat Lake and its bio-diversity. The pilot programme was accomplished by using low cost innovative measures to attract various organisms and with the participation of the fishermen whose livelihood depends on the lake. The keystone species, which attract bio-diversity in the lake, were identified and this model can be replicated in brackish water & lagoons on the coast.

Women and Environment This programme was launched in December 2003 at Pulicat to create a network of women on environmental issues. The local specific environmental education is conducted for the school children and they in turn educate their parents. Demonstrations like water harvesting, sanitation, and social forestry are conducted in the villages.

Programme components included

A fish-aggregating device (FAD)
Awareness on water-borne diseases
Scientific studies on the polluted water (chemical and thermal)
Conservation of juvenile fishes
Monitoring of fishing nets by people so that the young escape

Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation Work:

The Tsunami waves hit the villages of Pulicat at 8:45 am on the 26th December 2004. Thirteen people died but many lost their fishing gears and crafts and loss of employment is a serious concern.

CReNIEO’s team at Pulicat took timely action, made a rapid damage assessment and provided a link between the government and the people. A food assistance programme was launched in by CReNIEO in collaboration with IRDWSI, SCINDeA and Action-Aid for 6550 families consisting of fisherfolk SC, STs and economically poor. The rehabilitation plan is being drawn up. The Centre in partnership with networks have been assisting the coastal communities with some fishing gears, skills training, cleaning of wells and sinking new wells, health camps, computer training and trauma care. The school fees have been waived, free of cost note books and text books have been given for this academic year for all the school children in the CReNIEO Pulicat National Matriculation School