Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 4: People who have lost lacs of rupees in terms of crashing and damage to houses and other properties are sure to go into further agony going by the quantum of compensation for which they are eligible. A look at the amount fixed by the government makes it crystal clear that the amount is grossly disproportionate to the actual losses suffered.

The compensation payable in case of collapse or major damage to a pucca or kutcha house has been fixed at Rs 95,100. In the case of hilly areas, this compensation gets increased to Rs 1, 01,900. If 15 percent of a pucca house is damaged, the family is eligible for Rs 5,200 as compensation and the amount gets slashed to Rs 3,200 if the house is kutcha. If a hut is damaged, compensation receivable is Rs 4,100 and in case of cattle shed, this amount is Rs 2,100.

The compensation now being disbursed is slightly better as compared to earlier times when loss of pucca house would have been compensated by payment of Rs 35,000, and in case of kutcha houses, this amount was limited to Rs 15,000. In case of heavy damage, the kutcha and pucca houses used to get Rs 3,200 and Rs 6,300 respectively. Still, the increased amount too is grossly inadequate. Construction of a house in urban area requires lacs of rupees and the concerned do not seem to have applied their mind as to how a proper house can be built out of the meagre compensation of Rs 95,100.

In the past, agriculturists had found that the compensation they get for various kinds of losses including cross loss was almost equal to the expenses they incur in claiming this amount and follow up. Now the disbursement of compensation is almost immediate but the amount is totally inadequate. The people in important positions do not seem to be pursuing the case for enhancement of compensation by several times in an effort to at least bring some reprieve for the families that are already devastated by natural disasters.