The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Tsunami adalat draws big crowd

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Tsunami adalat draws big crowd

Staff Reporter

Out of over 500 applications only about 100 were related to tsunami

VOICING GRIEVANCES: Tsunami victims interacting with officials at a tsunami adalat organised by the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority in Injambakkam near Chennai on Monday. — Shaju John

CHENNAI: Widows, senior citizens, mentally unsound and handicapped persons turned out in large numbers at a tsunami adalat held at Injambakkam here on Monday.

Minnolial, aged about 18 years, of Neelankarai used to be in her elements in the pre-tsunami days. The December 26 waves, which lashed the coast while she was sleeping, destabilised her mentally, but no help was forthcoming, says the Shozhinganallur panchayat member B. Jamrudh Basheer. When approached, district authorities neither bothered to listen to her plight nor granted any relief, said her mother, clutching a bunch of papers including the ration card, a doctor's certificate, prescriptions and bills.

The TNSLSA Member-Secretary, M. Jeyapaul, said an adalat doctor had now referred the girl to a psychiatrist. After necessary certificates were issued, her case would be taken up by the adalat again at the Authority's headquarters and orders would be passed directing the authorities to grant relief within a timeframe.

However, out of over 500 applications taken up for hearing on Monday, only about 100 were related to tsunami, with the rest of the applicants seeking assistance to get ration cards and pension for the aged, handicapped and widows.

Sahaya Mary (25) is a widow for over two years . Her driver-husband was killed in a road accident in 2003. "They say my case is in court. Till today, I did not approach any official for help. I am here to avail myself of the financial assistance meant for widows," she said.

Subramani of Injambakkam is blind for the past 10 years and deserted by his two children. Accompanied by his wife, he came to the adalat, seeking a Government dole. After necessary certification by the adalat doctor and patient hearing by the members, the Tambaram tahsildar, S. Manoharan, agreed to order a monthly pension of Rs. 200 each for him.

The adalat, in which G.M. Akbar Ali and Mohammed Pitchai, the Principal Sessions Judge and Principal Sub-Judge of Chengalpattu district respectively, participated, disposed of all the matters.

The TNSLSA would constitute a team to monitor compliance of adalat orders periodically, said adalat counsel V. Kannadasan.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu