Kochi: Extension of date for appeals a respite for flood-hit in Ernakulam
Kochi: The government's decision to extend the date for receiving appeals for including in the beneficiary list of Rebuild Kerala initiative till June 30, turned to be a big respite for several flood affected families in the district. As March 31 was the earlier deadline for filing applications, many affected families were omitted from the list as they couldn't submit applications. And they have been finding it difficult to raise funds for reconstructing damaged houses.
Now, the families, who were either completely omitted from the list or included in the lower compensation list, can file appeals. Many people were given compensation only for 30 per cent damage for houses while their houses suffered more than 75 per cent damage.
Affected families have been categorised into different slabs based on the extent of damage caused to houses.
Houses with damage up to 15 per cent were given Rs.10,000 while Rs.60,000 was provided for the houses with damage of 16 per cent to 29 per cent. Houses with an extent of 30 to 50 per cent damage are eligible for Rs.1.25 lakh while the compensation for 60 to 74 per cent damage is Rs.2.5 lakhs. Rs.4 lakh is the compensation for completely destructed houses.
There are widespread complaints against discrepancies in categorizing the affected families and fund disbursal. Several families whose houses were completely submerged with more than 75 per cent damage to houses were entitled for only Rs.1.25 lakhs while they are eligible for compensation of Rs.4 lakh.
There are families in the district who didn't even receive the initial installment of Rs.10,000.
Applications can be submitted to secretary of the local body in specified format. Special counters will be opened in all local bodies for this purpose. Those who already submitted appeals are not eligible for applying.
Based on the government order issued on June 21, district collector S Suhas convened a meeting of officials concerned and secretaries of local self governments. He appealed the disaster hit families to make use of the opportunity.
