Graduates of Ockhi-hit villages given anganwadis jobs

Ironically, MBA, M Com and BE graduates belonging to the families of fishermen, who lost their lives in the killer storm were posted in Anganwadis and noon meal centres. Upset over this, a majority of them have not joined duty so far.

After ‘Ockhi’ struck Kanniyakumari district in November 2017, over 160 fishermen lost their lives, who were mostly breadwinners of their families. Soon after the disaster, the State government in an immediate relief announced Rs 20 lakh solatium and a government job to the kin of victims. As promised, the government on recently handed over the appointment orders to the kin. 

However, the posts offered to many of the beneficiaries were not commensurate with their educational qualifications. 

Elsha, a M Com graduate from Thoothur fishermen village in Kanniyakumari district, was offered the job of an anganwadi organiser. Elsha told DTNext that she was given employment in a village near Thuckalay, near Kerala border. “I have to switch three buses to reach the workspot. Unless I start at 5 am, it won’t be possible for me to reach the anganwadi on time,” she said. 

Elsha has rejected the offer and has decided to continue the B Ed course. She lost her father, Rabi, and two elder brothers, Dani and Darin, in the cyclone. The officials reportedly came to her house and promised to offer a better job soon. 

“Even Chief Minister, who visited Kanniyakumari after the cyclone, promised us better jobs. But, we did not expect this,” said Stella, Elsha’s mother. Similarly, Mary Benusha, an MBA graduate, and Jacquelin Anthony, an engineer, both from the same village of Elsha, have been offered the post of organiser in different anganwadis. 

Local fishermen claimed that many youth in their village, who were BE graduates, have been given jobs in noon meal centres. They demanded the government to take back all the appointment orders and give them jobs, which have growth potential.