Forced to pay for new IDs, claim relocated families

Complain of inadequate facilities in the neighbourhood

Left in lurch: Residents of TNSCB settlements in Gudappakam said they had no access to healthcare, education and livelihood opportunities.

Slum dwellers resettled at the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB) tenements in Gudapakkam, near Thirumazhisai, alleged that they had been asked to pay for updating their identity proofs with details of the new location. They claimed that earlier they were told told that the transfer of documents will be done free of cost. Slum Board officials however, denied the charge.

“Why should we pay money to get our new identity proof especially since it was not our choice to move,” asked A. Ravi, an auto driver, who with his family of nine were moved from Om Shakti Nagar, Maduravoyal, last month. He and other residents alleged that during the registration camp held by the district administration earlier this month, they had to pay ₹50 to get new Aadhaar cards and voter IDs and ₹25 for ration cards.

Ravi claimed that post relocation it had become difficult to make ends meet and that even the shifting allowance of ₹5,000 was insufficient. “This month alone we had to shell out over ₹2,000 for our monthly needs which includes paying for my mother’s medicines, children’s education and ₹250 for petrol, because there is no direct bus to the area. We could save some money if the facilities are available here,” he said.

Lack of jobs

“We have no jobs here. The authorities must understand our situation,” said N. Vinod Kumar, an electrician and another resident who alleged that most families have had to shell out around ₹200 to get their entitled identity documents alone.

Both men were at a public hearing, organised by five service organisations at Adyar on Tuesday. At the hearing participants raised the issue and other problems such as healthcare, education and livelihood opportunities.

TNSCB officials however said that a sum of ₹25 was charged to make corrections in the address in Aadhaar cards and another ₹25 for change in names. Officials said that no other amount was charged for transferring voter IDs or ration cards. “Transfer of all other documents, except Aadhaar, are free of charge. Our officers are monitoring,” the official said.

Officials added that work was under way to open all facilities at the tenement. So far, 119 children had been enrolled in nearby schools, Aadhaar details were modified for 559 residents, voter IDs for 196 and ration cards for 167.