Seventy-two-year-old K. Kanagarathinam, a dimissed police constable, virtually gave up his hope of getting any succour from the government. The former constable, who worked for six years from January 1963 to June 1969, contended that he was dismissed from the service for no fault of his. He had been knocking the doors of officers at different levels for 40 years. Sometime back, he sent a representation to the Chief Minister, seeking pension.
It came as a pleasant surprise when he was informed recently that the government had decided to treat his case on compassionate grounds and give some relief to him.
On Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin presented an order of the government to him, allowing Mr Kangarathinam a compensatory allowance of Rs. 2,033 a month with prospective effect.
Asked what he did for livelihood for all these years, the former constable, living in Avadi near here, replied that he had been a daily wage labourer.
Apart from Mr Kanagarathinam, 164 others, who approached the C.M.’s cell for relief, were sanctioned benefits under different welfare schemes. The total value of assistance granted to them was Rs. 20 lakh. Of the total number of beneficiaries, 134 were from Kancheepuram district; 21 from Tiruvallur and 10 from Chennai.
One hundred and ten persons, of whom 105 were from Kancheepuram district, were given free house site pattas; 25 persons – widows’ pension; 14 – old age pension; 11 - agricultural labourers’ pension and two – handicapped pension. One person of Tiruvallur district was covered under the girl protection scheme and another given assistance under the C.M’s General Relief Fund.
