Ragpicking wives await govt compensation
MID-DAY (MAY 2001)
By Skimmy Gupta
On April 3, 1999, four workers Sadaiyyan (40), Senthil Kumar (30), Mannar (38) and Venkatesh (30) died after inhaling the poisonous gases emitted by the septic tanks they were cleaning at Amar Industrial Estate, Saki Naka, Andheri (East).
Within a few days, Marathi dailies carried reports of the then chief minister Narayan Rane having promised Rs 50,000 from the chief minister' s relief fund as compensation to each of the bereaved families. But two years later, the wives of the deceased, residents of Sitladevi zhopadpatti, D N Nagar Andheri (West) are still running from one office to another to procure the promised compensation.
Sadaiyyan is survived by his wife Paunamma and six children, Senthil Kumar by wife Laxmi and two and Mannar by wife Shivagami and a child. Venkatesh and his wife Raja had no children.
Former councillor Jaywant Parab has acknowledged the receipt of letters sent by the widows, which he forwarded to the tehsildar, Mulund.
The women are also in possession of an acknowledgement made by Rane to their application for allotment of compensation amount.
The women now work as rag pickers and earn no more than Rs 20 daily. Their children are deprived of education, adequate food and shelter. The families often have to contend with one meal a day.
Paunamma told Mid-Day, " Not a single penny has been given to us by anybody. Even the people who had employed them had told us that we would be compensated, but we are merely being sent from door to door begging for our food."
Shivgami added, " Nobody understands that our husbands died working for those who employed them. If our husbands had been alive, our lives would have been better and our children would have had a better future."
Kavita, Sadaiyyan' s daughter said, " For the last two years, people have been rude towards us. We were pushed out of police stations, municipal offices, Mantralaya, the Bandra collector' s office, and the Mulund collector's office like stray dogs."
C S Sangeetrao, collector of suburbs said, " I will definitely look into the matter and will bring it to the notice of the relevant authority. Any of the affected family members can approach me with a simple letter."
Narayan Rane was unavailable for comment during the past month.
MID-DAY (MAY 2001)
By Skimmy Gupta
On April 3, 1999, four workers Sadaiyyan (40), Senthil Kumar (30), Mannar (38) and Venkatesh (30) died after inhaling the poisonous gases emitted by the septic tanks they were cleaning at Amar Industrial Estate, Saki Naka, Andheri (East).
Within a few days, Marathi dailies carried reports of the then chief minister Narayan Rane having promised Rs 50,000 from the chief minister' s relief fund as compensation to each of the bereaved families. But two years later, the wives of the deceased, residents of Sitladevi zhopadpatti, D N Nagar Andheri (West) are still running from one office to another to procure the promised compensation.
Sadaiyyan is survived by his wife Paunamma and six children, Senthil Kumar by wife Laxmi and two and Mannar by wife Shivagami and a child. Venkatesh and his wife Raja had no children.
Former councillor Jaywant Parab has acknowledged the receipt of letters sent by the widows, which he forwarded to the tehsildar, Mulund.
The women are also in possession of an acknowledgement made by Rane to their application for allotment of compensation amount.
The women now work as rag pickers and earn no more than Rs 20 daily. Their children are deprived of education, adequate food and shelter. The families often have to contend with one meal a day.
Paunamma told Mid-Day, " Not a single penny has been given to us by anybody. Even the people who had employed them had told us that we would be compensated, but we are merely being sent from door to door begging for our food."
Shivgami added, " Nobody understands that our husbands died working for those who employed them. If our husbands had been alive, our lives would have been better and our children would have had a better future."
Kavita, Sadaiyyan' s daughter said, " For the last two years, people have been rude towards us. We were pushed out of police stations, municipal offices, Mantralaya, the Bandra collector' s office, and the Mulund collector's office like stray dogs."
C S Sangeetrao, collector of suburbs said, " I will definitely look into the matter and will bring it to the notice of the relevant authority. Any of the affected family members can approach me with a simple letter."
Narayan Rane was unavailable for comment during the past month.
Labels: City
posted by Skimmy @ January 12, 2009
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