The Hindu : Front Page : Rich status makes them poorer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 21, 2006

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Rich status makes them poorer

P. Sudhakar

FOR A SOLUTION: Residents of Manimurtheeswaram waiting outside the Corporation office. — Photo: A. Shaikmohideen

TIRUNELVELI: Manimurtheeswaram, a hamlet under Tirunelveli Corporation, has around 300 Dalit families with marginal farmers and landless farm labourers. Surprisingly, these labourers are now members of `Above Poverty Line' families, as per a `survey' conducted by the civic body.

Until a survey was conducted in 2003, all families in this village near the Tamiraparani had been categorised as `Below Poverty Line' families, and consequently enjoyed all concessions and welfare measures of the Central and State Governments. However, the review conducted in 2005 classified them as `rich,' depriving this poor populace of several concessions. Right from getting rice from ration shop to acquiring subsidised loans for construction or repairing of houses, it has become a Herculean task for them.

"When we had gone for work, the surveyors hadcompleted their exercise swiftly and brought us under the APL category. Now we are rich, as per records, though our life standard has not progressed in anyway," said a 68-year-old Lakshmi, who came to the Corporation for the nth time along with several others on Tuesday to submit a petition to Mayor A. Jayarani. "The surveyors have committed a blunder and hence they should be suspended," the Mayor said.

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