HASSAN: When 14 people died after consuming hooch on April 25, 2005, in Baage in Sakleshpur, it was hoped that the incident would turn out to be a lesson for the villagers and deter them from consuming liquor. Though a board claiming "Baage: a liquor-free village" hangs outside the village, people continue to consume liquor.

Rajamma of the village regretted that the next of kin of those who died have not spent the compensation amount for the welfare of children. Instead, they used it to buy liquor. The only change she observed in the village is that people have stopped drinking arrack now and instead have opted for bottled liquor.

Cheap quality bottled liquor has made its way to the local market and people are consuming it, she said.

The Government paid Rs. 1 lakh each as compensation to the next of kin of those who died in the tragedy.

Those who survived the tragedy are still facing various health problems such as vision impairment and pain in their limbs. They are facing problems in going to work in plantations, according to villagers. Children, who lost their parents in the tragedy, have not been given any support as promised.

The former Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, had then directed the authorities concerned to put the children who lost their parents in the tragedy in residential schools. However, the authorities have failed to carry out the direction.

The villagers regret that many people made use of the opportunity and got "commission" for themselves out of the compensation for the victims.

Still waiting

While this is the situation in Baage, the family members of five victims of Tubinakere village in Channarayapatna taluk are still waiting for compensation. Despite the Government's decision to pay Rs. 1 lakh compensation in such cases, the next of kin of those who died after consuming spurious liquor on March 31, 2005 have not received compensation till date.

The former Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh had said that the Government would not discriminate among those who died in hooch tragedies and compensation would be paid to the victim's families after obtaining a report from the district administration.

As many as 22 persons have died and more than 100 persons have become partially blind in the district because of five such incidents.

Though compensation was paid in all the cases recommended by the district administration, the Government has not made up its mind to pay compensation to five families of Tubinakere, despite the district administration sending its recommendation.

When the issue was brought to the notice of Chennigappa, who was the Minister for Excise in the previous Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition Government, he had promised that he would make efforts to get compensation released. However, nothing came of the promise.

The people of Tubinakere village headed by Mayanna Gowda met Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy recently and appealed him to expedite the process of disbursing compensation to families of the victims.

The Chief Minister directed the Deputy Commissioner to send a report on the case.

The Deputy Commissioner told The Hindu that he had sent a report but was yet to receive communication in this connection.

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