People at the Tsunami affected areas have lost their jobs. There is no source of income for them except fishing and the fishing-related works. Tsunami had destroyed the boats and other machinery of fishing.

Some people do not want to pursue the fishing job due to fear-psychosis. Those who worked in companies could not go back since these companies have closed down after incurring heavy losses on account of Tsunami.

In this context, AID started training people for alternative livelihood through skills training programme to restore their livelihood income. There are two types of training conducted under this programme.

Tailoring Training

The women in these areas get trained by this training programme. Fisherwomen who could not go back to their fishing-related works undergo this training.


This training is for 6 months. There are 2 batches conducted in each centre. The Centres are located at Kumarapettai and Agaram Colony in the Parangipettai block. Each batch is trained for 3 hours per day. The course contents include cutting, machine work, designing and embroidery. Currently, there are 15 students at Kumarapettai and 33 students at Agaram.

Computer Training

This training programme is for the unemployed youth of the area. The youth have lost their entire livelihood options of fishing and the related works by the Tsunami. Computer training gives them a lot of hope for their future so that they can secure a decent job with a reasonable salary to fend their families.

There are 3 centres are located at C. Pudupettai and Samiyarpettai in Parangipettai block of Cuddalore district and at Nagapattinam. This computer training is for 6 months. There are 2 batches conducted in each centre.

Each batch is trained for 3 hours per day on computers. The course contents include the modules which are very much in demand in the job-market. There are 20 students at C. Pudupettai, 16 students at Samiyarpettai, and 40 students at Nagapattinam centre.

These training programmes are affiliated to Tamil Nadu Industrial Training Centre (TITC), Mount Road, Chennai. Accordingly, exams are conducted by this centre and Govt. of India certificate would be issued through National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT). Placement assistance is also provided by TITC in coordination with the Chennai Head Office.