Thursday, Feb 17, 2005
Thursday, Feb 17, 2005 |
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Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Tamil Nadu
By A. Subramani
CHENNAI, FEB. 16 . Families of those reported missing after the December 26, 2004 tsunami are entitled to all benefits, extended to the kin of those confirmed dead, a special tsunami Adalat, conducted by the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority (TNSLSA), ruled today. Making it clear that it was subject to verification by revenue authorities, the adalat directed the Chennai Collector to award a Rs. 1-lakh compensation and other benefits to N. Uma Rani of Old Washermenpet. Her husband, P. Narayanan, a workshop owner, had been missing since December 26 morning, when he went to the beach for a walk. His moped, however, was found on the Kasimet beach on December 31. After the police registered a case of missing person, she knocked at several doors for the benefits announced by the State and Central Governments, but in vain. Convinced that hers was a genuine claim, well supported by documents and circumstances, the adalat asked the revenue authorities to relax the rules on award of compensation to missing persons and provide benefits to her within a week. The TNSLSA received 23,000 applications, including 8,700 from areas in and around Chennai. Today's adalat took up 500 applications. Inaugurating the adalat, the Law and Information Technology Minister, D. Jayakumar, said the Chief Minister asked the revenue authorities not to insist on technicalities, if the claims were found prima facie genuine. The Government wanted to ensure that not a genuine claimant was left out. "Not the law, but humanitarian concerns alone matter." Of the over 18,000 applications received so far in Chennai, 10,000 were found ineligible. Assistance to the rest would be handed over in a week, he said. The TNSLSA Member-Secretary, M. Jeyapaul, said the biggest challenge before the adalat was "double claims", as an affected family could send multiple applications to different authorities. At the adalat, three benches, comprising retired judicial officers and advocates, awarded a cash compensation ranging from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 8,000. The adalat also issued legal heir certificates. An advocate, K. Gopal, who lost his father, M. Kapali, said the Government should find a way to disburse relief to the affected, instead of routing them through "panchayat" people in fishermen settlements.
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