Aid is at hand for flood victims to rebuild their lives as legal experts would help them file claim forms and retrieve lost and damaged documents.
With the floodwaters receding and the rescue mission entering the last leg, the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA) is turning its attention to ensure justice for the victims. The District Legal Services Authorities will open help desks at all the villages to help victims file application forms and seek rightful compensation from various agencies.
A large number of people have lost their passports, Aadhaar cards, voters ID cards, ration cards, educational certificates, title deeds, and driving licences. Banks and government agencies rely on these documents to confirm the identity of persons and ascertain the eligibility of beneficiaries for various schemes.
The trail of destruction is sure to open the floodgates of claims. It has forced eight lakh people to relief camps, left 341 dead, and injured another 904. The whereabouts of 32 persons are still unknown.
The Nature’s fury destroyed 904 houses and damaged 16,819 others. Crops in 37,275 hectares and valued at ₹ 604 crore were damaged, according to initial estimates. A large number of vehicles and infrastructure facilities were damaged, which would add to the innumerable insurance claims.
The authority will help victims access the benefits and promises made by governments. It will support the rehabilitation, care, and future education of orphaned children, initiate steps for debt relief measures, and supervise the relief and reconstruction activities as envisioned in the Legal Services Authorities Act, said K. Sathyan, secretary, KELSA.
2,500 lawyers
The service of the 3,000 para-legal volunteers and 2,500 empanelled lawyers would be utilised for supporting the victims as mentioned in the scheme for legal services to disaster victims through legal services authorities, he said. They will support victims to sort out issues related to insurance policies and arrange bank loans for restarting lost businesses and avocations.
