The Roda Mistry College of Social Work and Research Centre RMCSW, started by Late Smt. Roda Mistry (former President, ICSW) in 1966 (affiliated to Osmania University) has had a long history of extending its services during natural disasters. The college has always been involved in relief work during times of emergencies and disasters both at state and national level.

Under the able guidance and leadership of our Chairman of the Board of Management and President — ICSW, Shri.Basheer Mohd. Khan, and the Principal —RMCSW, Dr.Mrs.Anna Mathew, the college staff and non-teaching staff along with the students of MSW and BSW, are now actively involved in the relief work for the Tsunami disaster. A relief fund of nearly lIs.1 lakh (in cash & in kind) has been collected. The material includes 10 bags of rice, blankets, vessels etc. Piles of clothes were collected, which were in turn exchanged into 350 steel plates and glasses, as people do not need clothes at the affected areas.

A group of 20 students led by two faculty members, Dr.B.V.Jagadish and Ms.Radhika visited the Tsunami affected areas of Manganipudi Beach, Machilipatnam on 28th and 29tb of December ‘2004. They made a need assessment survey and undertook grief counseling, and also interacted with other Relief organizations. From the need assessment survey ,it was felt that there is a need for storage bins to store grains given as relief; kitchen items and non-perishable items.

Another group of 4 students along with a senior faculty member, Dr.(Mrs.) Hannah Anandraj left for Chennai on January 5, 2005 for 3 days, to visit the affected areas of Nagapattinam and Cuddalore, to undertake grief counseling and need assessment of the victims of the tragedy.

Dr.B.V.Jagadish, faculty member along with 25 students of BSW, MSW in 1st week of January’2005 went to Amalapuram to undertake relief work in the villages in and around it. The team in co-ordinate with an NGO, Integrated Rural Development Services (IRDS) headed by Mr.Sukumar David, an aluminums of RMCSW, identified 350 affected families in 8 villages viz., Kondurupadu, Kumala Kunta , Godi, N Kothapally, Raghavulapeta, S.Yanam, Relligadda. Each family is given 5 kgs of rice 1 steel plate and glass and 50 lit, storage bin. An amount of Rs.5,000/- was given to IRDS for the repair of fishing nets of the affected people.

Dr.B.V.Jagadish faculty~ member along with 2 students of BSW and MSW went to Varlagonda of ruthivenni Mandal of Krishna Dist. To provide livelihood assistance of Rs.25,000/- to about 20 women belonging to the fishing community. This was done as per the wishes of the donors who handed over the money to our Rtd. Faculty member Mrs. Aruna Reddy. This amount is being distributed to the women in co-ordination with Sangamitra Services Society, Vijayawada an NGO activity working in the disaster prone coastal villages in Krishna, Prakasham and Nellore Dist.

We thank Smt.Aruna Reddy former faculty member of our college , who has raised an amount of Rs.29,000/- , We also thank Smt.Arundhati Reddy , Secretary of Sangamitra Public School , Kukatpally who has donated Rs.20,000/- and bought rice worth Rs.15,000/-. Our special thanks goes to Sri.Sukumar David of IRDS and Smt.Vani of Sangamitra Services Society for their hospitality, support and cooperation. Finally we thank all the students of BSW & MSW who have actively raised to the occasion in raising relief material and fund to be distributed to the affected people.