Tamil Nadu - Others

Minister promises relief to all affected people

Staff Reporter

Backward Classes Welfare Minister distributes relief materials

KARUR: Irate public of Renganathapuram village on the banks of the Cauvery in the district, who bore the brunt of the recent flood, gave vent to their pent-up feelings when they surrounded the visiting Backward Classes Welfare Minister, S.M. Velusamy, on Friday.

They demanded that all the affected people in the village be given relief. They alleged that those not affected by the flood were also included in the list of beneficiaries prepared ahead of the Minister's hastily arranged visit to the affected areas in the district.

However, Mr. Velusamy managed to assuage the villagers' feelings and assured them that he would ensure that benefits reached all the affected.

Trouble brews

The trouble had started brewing half-an-hour before the Minister, who was on an assessment tour of flood-affected areas in the district, arrived at the village late in the afternoon.

When the residents found that the Minister was visiting them many of them wanted to relate their woes directly to him and seek relief.

But, as the number of affected was many, the officials tried to restrict the list of beneficiaries to 15 during the Minister's visit.

Obviously, the villagers thought that that was the final list and resented the exclusion of many.

They also alleged that the local All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam cadres had drawn the list to suit their convenience, while the officialdom was a mute witness to the whole episode.

Away from the scene of action, a few angry women badmouthed officials for the lapse.

Minister's solution

But, an unruffled Mr. Velusamy took the wind out of the protestors sail by calling upon a few youths, who drew his attention first, to assist the officials in preparing the final list of beneficiaries in the village. This had an instant effect on the crowd, which then believed that he meant business and the murmurs slowly subsided.

For his part, the Minister assured the villagers that he would ensure that all the affected got relief and that none of them would be left out.

Inspection

Earlier, the Minister, along with the Collector, A. Karthik, the Kulithalai MLA, A. Pappasundaram, and the Krishnarayapuram MLA, Sasikala Ravi, distributed dhotis, saris and other relief materials to the affected, residing along the South Bank Canal at Kulithalai.

He then visited the Kattalai bed regulator at Mayanur, where the Assistant Executive Engineer, Ravi, briefed the Minister on the situation.

He also inspected some of the sluice gates between Mayanur and Kattalai where the officials of the Public Works and Revenue Departments had prevented potential breaches by piling sandbags.

Returning to Karur, Mr. Velusamy reviewed the progress of ongoing schemes in the district with the heads of various departments.

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