Relief for first floor houses too

The Chief Minister considering the plight of residents staying on first floor has instructed officials to include them under the relief disbursal drive as special cases.

Sources said that officials are at present carrying out a door-to-door survey to enumerate the flood-hit in the three districts of Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram. They visit each and every household in the affected pockets with a questionnaire seeking 13 particulars. Residents have to produce some kind of address proof like ration card, driving licence, Aadhar card, passport, etc., to the officials to receive the dole given by the government.

Around 3,000 staff have been deputed for the door-to-door survey, according to sources.

In addition to this, the government has decided to hold special camps from December 14 to issue various documents to rain-affected families. Shiv Das Meena, Prin¬cipal Secretary, Food, Cooperation and Consumer Protection, said that the camps would be held at the taluk level. Those who have lost their family cards can apply for a fresh one. They would be issued with an acknowledgement receipt which could be used for receiving their quota for December from their respective ration shops. Later, they would be provided with a new card.

Apart from this, the state government has also requested the oil companies to be part of the drive and issue fresh LPG cylinder passbooks as many have lost them and in some cases cylinders were also washed away in the floods.

Meanwhile, there are requests from several areas for compensation for loss of consumer durables to be included in the relief application. Several residents from Kotturpuram, Mudichur, Villivakkam and other rain-hit areas have lost household electronic goods like TV, refrigerators, computers and washing machines. 

“We have lost everything to the rains. In fact, the floods have rendered us communicationless. We have to start our life afresh,” says Kalyan, a resident of Mudichur.

Mahesh, who is also in a similar situation, says, “Even if I go for a loan to rebuild my house completely, repayment is a serious question. Of course, I can use the reserves I have, but what if an emergency situation comes?”