Widows, marginalized social groups, and the Dalits were given particular attention under Development and Peace's India emergency relief and reconstruction program. This program is supported largely in association with a network of partners attached to Catholic networks.

• More than 1,000 families received support in re-launching their activities in a dozen villages in the Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts: 369 Dalit journeymen fishers received boats and fishing equipment; 10 women's savings groups, involving 525 women, were given access to a revolving fund; more than 500 students were provided with school supplies and uniforms and 1075 handicapped or elderly individuals received utensils and other equipment.

Dalit fishermen received boats and fishing equipment.

• Approximately 30 women masons took advantage of intensive training courses in house building techniques in the Kerala province; they also built two model homes and nine other houses that were then turned over to tsunami victims. The training received by these women will contribute to the overall reconstruction effort while generating revenues for their association.

• Development and Peace provided the Oblate Fathers with the means to assist more marginalized tsunami victims like the Dalit journeymen fishers and women head of household in the Naggapatinam and Kanyakumari districts - constituencies that are often overlooked by government programs. 120 houses were built.

A Dalit widow in front of her new house.	Production of vermicelli with the help of equipment provided by the Oblate Fathers.

The remaining funds to be allocated for the tsunami relief in India will be committed to support other efforts through the Caritas network.

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