Families languish in relief camps in Ernakulam district

KOCHI: Five months after the century's worst floods in the state, few families are still languishing in relief camps in Ernakulam district. Though authorities have disbanded relief camps few families who have nowhere to go still remain there. There are three families at Town Hall, North Paravur while many families couldn't return to their homes and are residing at relatives' houses. 

Though majority of families left the relief camps within one or two months and returned to normal life, few are still struggling to overcome the wounds inflicted by the August floods. 

"Even five months after the disaster, we have nowhere to go and are forced to remain here. Since we are from Chittattukara panchayat area, it is the panchayat which is supposed to help us, but they haven't extended any support. The municipality has nothing much to do about it," said Salila Kumari, one of the inmates at the Town Hall. 

A widow from Thanipadam, Vedimara near Paravur, Salila Kumari has to take care of her ailing mother Sarasu. She is sharing the space at the Town Hall with two other families. 

The family without any financial support finds it hard to eke out a living. They depend on the Numma Oonu initiative by the district collector and other NGOs for food and other basic requirements. "We have received the initial aid from the government for house reconstruction. But it is grossly inadequate and it almost took three month for us to get a new electricity connection," she added. 

Similar is the case of the other two families which are finding it difficult to rebuild their damaged houses. 

The municipal authorities who provided accommodation facility for the families are unaware of their present condition. "Only three families are left and they are expected to leave soon.

Since they are from nearby panchayats, the municipality can't take their responsibility," said sources at the civic body.

Meanwhile, in panchayats like Kunnukara, Chendamangalam and Puthanvelikara there are families which couldn't return to their homes yet. "Unfortunately, a few genuine families were omitted from the government's list of beneficiaries for house reconstruction. They didn't get any support and now living either in rented houses or with relatives," said M.P Shajan, a former member of the Puthanvelikara panchayat.