JOIN USThe floodwaters might have receded in several areas here and the neighbouring districts but several thousands are yet not ready to leave the relief camps since their houses have been destroyed.
“Where can I go from here as my house has been completely destroyed,” B Ramani, a resident of the worst-hit Kotturpuram area in Chennai who is now staying at a relief camp, said.
Fifty-seven-year-old Mohammad Iqbal although is more fortunate than Ramani since only the roof of his house has been damaged, but still he is not able to shift his family back to the residence since he doesn’t have a single penny to repair it.
Financial help
Though the Tamil Nadu government on Monday announced that a financial assistance of Rs 10,000 would be given to those who lost their houses in the flood, many are still apprehensive since the aid would be given only to those who have ration cards.Even the amount might not be enough.“What can I buy with Rs 10,000 after I lost all my household articles,” S Varalakshmi, a housewife, who is also firm to stay at the rehabilitation centre, asked. Kuppusamy, another person in utter distress, said he might not succeed in getting the government’s help as he has lost his ration card.
People lost incomes
Several people who earn livelihood from their small businesses were also left without jobs as their setups were devastated in the flood. “I have lost my daily earnings after my small makeshift idly shop was destroyed in the flood. Though I don’t have money, at least I get food and medical attention for myself and my family in the camp,” one Jhones Kumar said.
Though Kumar has no idea when he would leave the camp, he has a plan to set up a small idly shop after getting the government’s assistance.
No home left
Some people, who left the camps for their home, saw the nature’s fury has destroyed everything. Kamalakannan, for example, lived with his wife and four children in a two-room hut in Kundrathur suburb. The house no more exists there and the family returned to see a kerosene stove and few other ruined household commodities lying in a heap. For the economically better-off, too, the worry is no less. Many people have lost their essential household commodities like refrigerator, washing machine and furniture in the flood and it is an immense task now to buy everything new.
“If I try to buy all the household articles immediately, it will cost me over a lakh minimum,” E Parthiban, a clerk working in a private company, said.