Families in Talbagan were used to the men leaving the village early in the morning, make that short walk to the naali, take their dingy and head for sea. They would come back with a decent catch of fish, not just to feed the family, but also to sell in order to make a small profit.

The tsunami changed their lives- the naali no longer fills with water. It is difficult to go into the sea as frequently as before. In this small island, this means loss of a regular source of income.

Anima Sarkar belongs to one such family, which was on a lookout for alternate source of income to feed a family of seven. Her husband and sons cannot rely on just the sea and land to make a living.

The poultry scheme of CNI offered one such opportunity. In a month’s time, the hens have started laying eggs and almost covering the entire expense on the feeding of these chicks.

Sarkar comes to the hatch three times in a day to feed the poultry usually accompanied by her grandson. “I feel good that I can do something to contribute to the family income,” she says.

She is also adept at pointing to the disease that occurs frequently. “ Since there is an absence of medicine, I give them the same medicine as us,” she says speaking of the small improvisations that people have learnt to make in places where human existence is fraught with challenges, more so after the tsunami.