The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : We were left out: Dalits, Irulas

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 23, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

We were left out: Dalits, Irulas

By S. Vydhianathan

CHENNAI, MARCH 22 . Despite the Central and State Governments' claim that immediate relief was provided to tsunami victims, complaints poured in from victims from different parts of the State at yesterday's public hearing of the Supreme Court commission here.

For the non-fisherman community, life became miserable. Before the December 26, 2004 tragedy, its members made a living collecting oysters and prawns from backwaters, which fetched Rs.50-75 a day. Now these varieties are not available.

After the disaster officials assured them cash grant, free rice, kerosene and utensils. But the assistance was given only to fishermen and not for others such as the Dalits and Irulas, they said. In many colonies, only 10 per cent of the residents got relief, leading to heartburns.

Water scarcity

Manjula, a Dalit from Madhavipattinam in Nagapattinam district, said drinking water scarcity became acute after the tsunami. Earlier the colony residents got drinking water from a well, five km away. Now water in wells turned saline. One had to pay Rs. 5 for a pot of water.

Children dropped out of school as they lost their books and uniforms.

Manjula alleged that the Government concentrated relief works only in fishermen colonies.

The Dalits and Irulas said they were rendered jobless. Earlier they assisted fishermen, who themselves were jobless now. Under the `food- for-work' programme, only one person in a house was given a job even if more than one family lived there. Payment was also irregular.

Senthil, who was running a shoe repair depot near the Nagapattinam railway station, close to the sea, said there were 50 cobblers engaged in the trade for the last three decades. As they ran for safety when seismic waves slammed the coast, their depots and tools were washed away. Repeated representations to officials failed to bring them any relief.

According to panchayat heads, relief poured in only for panchayats under the control of the ruling party and not for others. Fishermen said they did not have any say in the purchase of catamarans, boats and nets. The authorities forced them to settle for inferior quality.

Gowrilingam of Kancheepuram district said a variety of nets was being used for different seasons. But the fishermen were given loans for purchasing only one net.

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