The Hindu : Karnataka News : Mandya labourers yet to get Hakku Patra

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Karnataka

Karnataka

Mandya labourers yet to get Hakku Patra

Muralidhara Khajane

MANDYA: Labourers of Tamil Colony, which was destroyed in the major fire on Monday, are craving for “Hakku Patra” (title deed) for several years to construct pucca houses. However, their demand has not been met so far.

“Even after staying here for more than five decades, we have not been given “hakku patra” by the authorities. Neither politicians, who visit us during every election, nor the officials are showing any mercy on us,” says Palanisamy (55).

Palanisamy’s father, Kandaswamy, came to Karnataka from Tamil Nadu during the construction of Krishnarajasagar reservoir as a construction worker in 1920. Thousands of people like Palaniswamy, who are descendents of the labourers, who came to State then, are staying in Tamil Colony since then and are working as labourers.

The labourers have been living in thatched huts which caught fire on Monday.

Second incident

The fire, which left more than 5,000 homeless, is the second such incident in the last five years, according to president of Mandya City Slum Dwellers’ Federation M.B. Naganna Gowda.

“First incident occurred two years ago and residents doused the fire themselves,” he said.

According to him, residents of Tamil Colony have been pleading with the district administration to issue them title deeds.

Admitting that that Tamil Colony is the oldest slum in the city, Deputy Commissioner Manjunatha Prasad said he had ordered for a survey of all 35 slums in the city. The survey was completed recently and the dwellers are given 10 days time to make their claims and file objections.

After that final list will be published and process of issuing title deeds will commence, he said.

Temporary houses

Mr. Prasad said that construction of temporary houses for the labourers had commenced in the adjoining area of Tamil Colony and a new borewell was sunk to supply them drinking water. He had discussed the issue of making permanent arrangement for them with the Commissioner for Housing, who assured to finance the project through Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme.

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