Moving from pillar to post for compensation

Tejawat Mohan is around 18 years old and is currently pursuing a diploma in a private polytechnic college in Turkala Khanapur in Veldurthi mandal. His sister, Manjula, is an Intermediate second year student at the Government Junior College in Narsapur. His mother, Tejawat Dhamkey, dons three roles – a farmer, farm labourer and petty businesswoman – depending on the situation.

The family’s fortune turned upside down on September 4, 2014, when the head of the family, Tejawat Shankar, committed suicide by consuming pesticide. Shankar, who had only half-an-acre land, took another five acres on lease for cultivation. The drought that hit the district for two consecutive years had an adverse impact on the life of Shankar and his family, just like many other farmer families in the district.

Additionally, Shankar had also constructed a house at a cost of about Rs. 2.5 lakh by taking an outside loan.

All his dreams got shattered with the impact of the drought. Mounting debts to the tune of Rs. 4.5 lakh too increased the pressure. Feeling that it may not be possible to overcome the burden, and leaving everything upon his family members, Shankar forcibly ended his life.

With no relatives coming to his aide, 18-year-old Mohan was forced to move from pillar to post to get compensation for the family. Since the last one year, he has been in pursuit of the compensation, with the officials promising to complete the job ‘shortly.’ But for him, this ‘shortly’ has only been a long wait.

Last week, he was at the Collectorate office to meet the district officials and present his case. He was asked to come after one week. He came again on Monday. Now, they have asked him to meet the respective revenue divisional officer.

“Can my family get compensation with which we can stand again? How long do I have to move from one office to another? Why is it being delayed so much?” asks Mohan.