Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Sep 23: Villagers gheraoed Navunda panchayat office here on Wednesday September 23 alleging discrimination in the distribution of compensation from the government's natural calamities fund.
About 68 families from the second ward in Navunda panchayat limits had suffered losses due to floods during rains about a month ago and revenue officials had submitted a report to their senior government officials requesting compensation. However, the higher officials had returned the report saying that there was a scarcity of funds for distribution and asked to examine the condition of the families and recommend beneficiaries. Hence, 28 families were selected out of the earlier list and the report was sent to the government by the revenue officials.
However, the compensation cheques were approved for only 18 families out of these and the cheques were distributed to those beneficiaries.
The families deprived of compensation expressed their anguish alleging discrimination, saying that only 18 families, mainly those belonging to a particular community, have been selected for compensation though more than 50 families were affected by floods.
The villagers of the second ward of Navunda gram who gheraoed the gram panchayat office on Wednesday urged for a detailed inquiry and demanded that all the victims be paid compensation. Taluk panchayat member Mahendra Poojary who was present, criticized the action of the department in creating misunderstandings in the village. He urged another survey and demanded fair compensation for the victims.
Leaders of the ward who participated in the protests including Lalitha, Gulabi, and Rajesh took the gram panchayat members to task.
Village accountant Ishwar refuted the allegations and said that there had been no discrimination in the distribution of compensation. "The matter will be brought to the notice of officials and action will be taken as per their order," he said.
Gram panchayat president Narayana Devadiga said that it is the responsibility of revenue officials to distribute compensation for natural calamities and the grama panchayat has not interfered in it. Villagers, meanwhile, have threatened to intensify protests if compensation is not paid.
More than 50 villagers including gram panchayat member Laxmi Devadiga, Jagadish Poojary, Dinesh Ganiga, Rama Poojary, Mutha Billava, Harish, Lalitha, Gulabi and others participated in the protests.