Kerala flood survivors given new hope by PwC India Foundation and SEEDS India

• Transitional shelters and toilets handed over
• More transitional shelters and toilets being constructed in the second phase
• The intervention looks at rehabilitation, restoration of water systems and generating awareness around safe water handling and safe sanitation practices for the communities affected by the 2018 floods

New Delhi, 12 February 2019: PwC India Foundation has handed over close to 30 transitional shelters and toilets to identified families in Mananthavady Municipalty of Wayanad district who lost their homes during the floods that hit the state of Kerala in August last year. Assisting the Foundation on this project on-ground is Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS) India, an NGO which specialises in disaster response and the rehabilitation space. The shelters were handed over to the families in the presence of Shri Umesh Yadhav, Sub-Collector, Wayanad and Shri Suveej, Chairman Municipality Mananthavady.

This project is part of the Foundation’s efforts to provide safe shelters to disadvantaged communities in times of natural disasters. The shelters and toilets have been made using materials that were locally sourced and which can be further reused when the families look at more permanent shelter solutions.

While speaking to the families during the handover ceremony, Satyavati Berera, COO, PwC India said, "When we started work on this project post the floods, our hope at PwC was to provide the flood affected families with stability and safety and with a roof over their heads. Hopefully, this small effort by NGO partner SEEDS India and us will help lift a substantive burden off of the families and allow them to focus on other pressing needs. I also take this opportunity to congratulate the local authorities for their continued support to communities and agencies who have been part of the rebuilding process."

As part of this project, fifteen community wells have been cleaned in the area and potable water sources are being re-established to enable long term support to the local residents. In addition to this, awareness generation campaigns sensitising the local community on safe water handling processes and safe sanitation practices, and encouraging community led initiatives towards safe drinking water have also been undertaken.

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About PwC India Foundation (PwCIF)
The PwC India Foundation was established in 2008 with the objective of making an impact in the areas of education and environment sustainability.

We have now expanded our areas of intervention to sanitation, social entrepreneurship and humanitarian response to natural disasters. The foundation’s initiatives revolve around the following:

• Empowering communities: Supporting programmes run by NGOs
• Enabling participation: Involving our employees by using their expertise
• Special initiatives: Addressing some of the fundamental challenges our country