Personal assistance: Citizen advocate to utility firms offers power of another kind

Saturday, January 08, 2005

David Hughes is executive director of Citizen Power Inc., which is known for battling utility companies. But in the wake of the tsunami that devastated South Asia, Hughes' group has set up a fund to restore power boats to one Indian fishing village.

Lake Fong, Post-Gazette David Hughes, 59, executive director of Citizen Power Inc., of Squirrel Hill, raises money to help a fishing village in India destroyed by tsunami. Click photo for larger image. DonationsDonations can be made out to Citizen Power with "tsunami relief" in the memo line. The address is Citizen Power, 2121 Murray Ave., Pittsburgh 15217 Related coverageThree doctors bound for Asia to treat survivors

"I don't have much choice," said Hughes, who has vacationed among the villagers for years. "I have to help people I know, who are asking me for help."

Hughes, 59, has been visiting South India for a decade, inspired to go there by an Indian, one of many international students to whom he has rented rooms in his Squirrel Hill home. He stayed many times in Mamallapuram, which is known for its oceanside temples -- saved from the tsunami by a sea wall -- and for carvings made from stone that looks like granite but is easily chiseled into jewelry or statuary.

"You can't help but make friends there, not only because it is so small, but because the people are so friendly," he said.

In 2001 a dispute broke out between two factions of fisherman. To ease tensions, the government relocated one group a mile away to New Nemmali.

"It's a bunch of thatched huts right on the beach, and many of my friends ended up there," he said. "That is the village that got totally wiped out."

There were relatively few deaths, in part because the waves struck just as the fleet of motorized wood-and-rope fishing rafts returned. Fishermen plucked many survivors from the water. But many boats, with their precious outboard motors, were destroyed.

After the 2001 relocation, Hughes periodically wired money to several families struggling to survive. When Hughes managed to get through to the village by phone after the tsunami, they begged for help, saying all they had were the clothes they were wearing.

Hughes did not want to offer help that would make his friends more dependent. The best thing he could do, he thought, was help them return to work.

The Indian government was offering fishermen new motors at the discount price of about $800. But that was far beyond their means. The village had 42 boats and 35 motors before the tsunami. Hughes believes that few, if any, motors survived.

"I can't raise enough money to buy new motors for everybody in that village," he said. "But maybe we can find used motors, or buy two or three to get people started. "

The Citizen Power board agreed to adopt relief for New Nemmali as one of its projects, allowing Hughes to seek tax-deductible donations. About 40 of his friends and relatives gave an initial $4,000.

In addition to motors, he may use the money for other critical needs. He plans to visit New Nemmali next month to assess the villagers' needs and talk to government officials. He will pay for his flight, food and lodging.

"Everything anybody gives will go to help these people," he said.