Dreams of a better education being realised

Dependents of Lansdowne mishap victim get Rs two lakh relief from Labour department

When C  Lokesh was alive, he had battled odds to make ends meet. His dream was to ensure quality education for his two sons. Now, Lokesh is no more, but his mother and wife want to fulfil his dream.

On Tuesday, Sheela wife of Lokesh was handed over a cheque for Rs two lakh from Karnataka State Private Commercial Vehicle Drivers Accident Relief Plan from the State Labour department, at a programme organised by Mysore Adarsha Autorickshaw Drivers Forum, Gayathripuram in the city. Just a month into his death, Lokesh had enrolled for the plan, by paying a one-time premium of Rs 25, said Venkatesh A Shindhihatti quoting his (Lokesh) mother Sundaramma.

Sheela and her mother-in-law Sundaramma, residents of Raghavendra Nagar said that Lokesh, an SSLC pass, had taken to autorickshaw driving to look after a family of six - father Chikkanna, mother Sundramma, wife Sheela and sons Arun and Vikas.
The family suffered a blow, when Lokesh met his tragic end along with three others, when the Lansdowne building collapsed on August 25, 2012.

Since then, Lokesh’s mother has taken reins of the family working as a maid at couple of houses, earning a meagre Rs 2,500 per month.

“My daughter-in-law has studied up to eighth standard. But, I don’t want her to work”, Sundaramma told in a firm tone to Deccan Herald.

Said Sheela; “When my husband was alive, he wanted to see his sons got a better of education and admitted them to Geetha School on Mysore-T Narsipura road.  The urge stemmed from the fact that he was deprived of higher education.” Arun is studying in fifth standard and Vikas in third standard. 

Education

Sundramma said that she wanted to spend the relief amount on their education. The earlier compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh (given by the district administration after the mishap) helped them meet expenses on death related rituals and to repay loans.
While the autorickshaw bought on loan from a bank was confiscated by the authorities concerned.

The benefits

Explaining about various benefits offered by the Labour Welfare Board, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Venkatesh A Shindihatti said, the accident relief was available for the drivers (who possessed driving licence) of unorganised sectors like - autorickshaw, bus, lorry and maxicab.

There is a one time payment of Rs 25 at the time of enrolling for the benefit.
 Similarly, new pension scheme could be availed by paying Rs 100 per month, along with the share of both State and Central governments.

Under health benefits, in-patient treatment up to Rs 30,000 would be reimbursed for the card holder and their family members once in a year.