Apprehensions have surfaced among the cyclone-affected people in Nagapattinam district that relief and monetary compensation promised by the State Government will become elusive to the deserving section in the backdrop of what they describe as shortcomings in data generation.
The procedure adopted for data generation on beneficiaries appears to have shortcomings at some places, according to affected families in Thalaignayiru village, one of the worst-hit parts in the coastal district.
The data on damages caused to households and the list of beneficiaries were understandably generated at three levels: local bodies, Revenue department, and local AIADMK party units.
But now, the deserving sections of people approaching the taluk offices have been shocked to learn that their names do not figure in the list, said Ramasamy, a resident of seventh ward of Vedaranyam Municipality.
“For a week or two after the cyclone, the government deployed manpower from other districts for also preparing the list of beneficiaries. But the officials at the taluk offices are now saying that the lists are missing,” Mr. Ramasamy said.
The taluk offices in Vedaranyam and Kilvelur continue to witness large crowds of anxious people submitting petitions seeking benefits that they are entitled to every day, he pointed out.
As per the consolidated data generated by the officials, Nagapattinam accounted for 77,896 fully damaged and 22,274 partially damaged huts. A total of 11,112 pucca houses was found to have been damaged. Inmates of damaged huts and pucca houses were entitled to compensation of ₹ 10,200 and ₹ 5,200 respectively. Additionally, they were promised 27 relief items.
A week after the cyclone when there were signs of affected people getting restive, the government authorities assured them that they could claim the compensation by producing their ration cards.
But now, the officials at the local level have reportedly taken a position that only those who have received electronic transfer of compensation for damaged houses will be provided with the package of relief materials consisting of clothes, food items, blankets, umbrella, soap, mat, candle, match box, milk powder, and cooking oil.
The government can as well provide monetary compensation instead of the relief package. The people are in dire need of money. The relief materials have been supplied in adequate quantities by non-government organisations and other philanthropic entities, former MLA of Vedaranyam Assembly Constituency S.K. Vedaratnam said.
According to a senior official, the distribution of compensation and relief is a continuing process. The government’s directive that none of the affected must be left out will be scrupulously followed.
