While the Indian government is making the news for their outreach to Sri Lanka and other countries in the wake of the disaster, some areas of their own country have been largely ignored.

With roughly .002% of the $23 million pledged by India to the reconstruction of Sri Lanka, three people (Full Disclosure: One of them is my wife) who traveled to Tamilnadu from Arkansas have accomplished everything from setting up trust funds for 100 children to replacing fishing boats, motors and nets for villages that lost everything. They've also set up accounts that local businessmen can borrow against that will allow them to restart their businesses and, more importantly, reemploy the workers who right now cannot support their families. One of the relief lessons learned has been that it's not so important how much money you have to spend, but how you spend it.

Another thing that has been striking is the complete lack of religious tension. In an area inhabited by Hindus, Moslems and Christians they have seen no evidence of trouble between the communities. They've delivered aid in villages of all three faiths with no problems and have received the same, very warm, reception from all.

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