In instances such as Monday’s accident in Velachery, where three pavement-dwellers were run over by a car, getting compensation is an uphill task, say experts.
D. Nagasaila, advocate, People’s Union for Civil Liberties, noted how there are many grey areas. “Ironically, the poor are more vulnerable to road accidents, but the compensation will be higher for those with an income when damages are calculated,” she said. It only gets more difficult if the victims are without an education, she said.
The time taken for the cases is also an impediment, she said, adding that there was need for institutional support.
V.S. Suresh, advocate, who deals with a lot of motor accident cases, said that calculating income for such people was the issue. In some cases, the person who files for compensation may also stop coming during the course of case, especially if he/she is a labourer from another State, he said.
R. Geetha, advisor, Unorganised Workers Federation, said that if workers are registered with the Manual Workers Welfare Board, the family would get compensation after a fatal accident. “Ragpickers should be registered, given ID cards and benefits,” she said.
