Thiruvananthapuram: The post-flood financial assistance announced by the government, Rs 10,000, is not for everyone affected by floods. Ask Manikantan K., a carpenter who lives at Kulappuram near Government High School, Jagathy, whose home was just a metre away from flood water.
Water had seeped into its foundation, damaging it and causing visible cracks on the walls of his home. He and his family were at the school’s relief camp.
“I had listed my name for the assistance, twice. But I don’t know why we did not receive the amount, even as the others did,” he says.
Most here have received the money, according to Lekha A., a flood-affected resident. But there was at least one more Kulappuram resident who did not receive the money. DC has taken photographs which show that his house was inundated during the two days. But he did not want to raise it as a complaint as he was hopeful he would get the money in a week’s time.
“I saw water rising in my backyard at night, and had an inkling that the home will be flooded. So I immediately rang up a relative and went to stay with them in Vattiyoorkavu. When the village officer visited the camp and made a list, I was not there. Later, the village officer had prepared a second list, and I am probably included in it,” he said.
The village officer was supposed to include even those who were not at relief camps, according to Trivandrum Tehsildar. “I will look into why this name was not included. As long as their house was flooded over the two days, they are eligible for the money,” he said.
As for Mr Manikantan’s case, he said they are not eligible for the financial assistance if there was no water inside their home, but he can apply for maintenance assistance.But he had to attend the cracks at the earliest. He said he could not have waited for the North East monsoon to start. So he borrowed money. Since he could not afford to employ workers, he and his brother-in-law Rajesh were repairing the house on Thursday.
The aid of Rs 10,000 would not have been enough. C. Jagadamma, a 70-year-old widow, who lives right next to Killi river, said, “A mason asks for Rs 2000 per day. There’s so much work left at my home.” She too has cracked walls and floor in the home which was freshly plastered using the aid.
