This Paper was presented at the Council of Social Studies, New Delhi in a National conference on the theme  Gender and Space: Discourses of Women in India. The paper would be published shortly. No part of paper can be quoted without permission of the authors

This evidence-based article which underlines the exclusion of Aravani population ( persons from transgender comminity) in Tsunami response and recovery processes in Tamilnadu state of India, was first   published in the newsletter of Tamil Nadu Tsunami Resource Centre, Chennai. The article is based on focus group discussions with Aravanis in Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Kanniyakumari districts of Tamilnadu, India.The article is published by HPN, ODI for December, 2008, edition.  To  see the published version please visit the link http://www.odihpn.org/report.asp?id=2975

For any clarification,  further discussion and feedback on this article, please contact the author at pincha.chaman@gmail.com

Based on an independent research study on gender issues in the context of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, this evidence based toolkit builds on the voices of the grassroots and use them as one of the powerful tools for sensitising practitioners, at all levels, on gendered issues.  Written in a talk- to- me style, and replete with thought provoking thematic sketches, the toolkit explains the basic concepts related to gender, and demonstrates their application in analysing the field realities and engendering participatory tools. It sets out paradigm to gauge how gender sensitive policies and programmes are and uses good practices adopted by both NGOs and Government, as tools to capture what gender mainstreaming means at the implementation level and concludes with some practical and strategic recommendations.

For queries and feedback please get in touch with the author at chaman@thinkbeyondboundaries.org

The publication supported by Oxfam America is an outcome of an independent research study in the 45 Tsunami affected areas. This is a compelling uncovering of how gendered realities resulted in the aftermath of Tsunami. The study also analyses some of the good and replicable practices and policy stances by both NGOs and Government which attempt to expand the spaces for women in order to achieve the outcomes of gender equality both in the disaster management and development processes.

For queries and feedback please get in touch with the author at chaman@thinkbeyondboundaries.org

 Book  review of Disaster Management: A toolkit for Practitioners by Dr. Elain Enarson. The review appears in Development Policy Journal, January 2010.