Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore   

Fraud in relief disbursement alleged

By Our Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE, MARCH 3. Over 500 people, a majority of them women, staged a road roko at Killai near Chidambaram today, alleging malpractices in the disbursement of compensation for cattle lost in the tsunami.

They urged the authorities to properly identify those who had lost cattle, goat and sheep in the disaster. They alleged that a veterinary doctor -- in collusion with some politicians -- had prepared a list of bogus beneficiaries.

They called for drawing up a fresh list by carrying out door-to-door verification in the region. Led by the deputy convenor of the DMK, Killai Ravichandran, they also demanded that the officials should take note of villages such as Thaikkalthonithurai which had been left out, transfer of the veterinary doctor and compensation for people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Irulas involved in manual fishing and those handling the fishing nets in trawlers (who remain jobless now).

However, it is learnt that the Animal Husbandry Department had transferred the veterinary doctor to Vilagam.

They questioned the logic behind disbursing the relief in Cuddalore, and not at the affected places. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Palani, along with posse of policemen went to the spot and pacified them. Departmental sources told The Hindu that soon after the tsunami, it had gathered data on the number of cattle, including goats and sheep that had perished, and these were well documented.

Their figures showed that 140 people had lost 1,068 head of cattle. The sources categorically said that there could not be any second list, saying the survey had been done in a fair and proper manner.

Soon after the disaster, the department had traced the carcasses and safely disposed them of, and then taken preventive measures to check the outbreak of disease. Moroever, it had also organised the uninterrupted supply of fodder by procuring it from other districts to feed the surviving animals. The sources said the petitions seeking compensation on this count keep pouring in.

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