Need for Reassessment of Natural Disaster Victim Rehabilitation

Monday, July 19: The rehabilitation center built by the government for the victims of the 2018 Kodagu floods and landslides has now been found to need a re-examination.

Currently, many houses in the rehabilitation village are closed, and some houses are being turned into forest. Meanwhile, there are also suspicions that one or two beneficiaries have rented out the houses provided by the government to others, and overall, there is a demand for a re-examination to see if only those who have obtained the title deeds are living in these houses.

During the 2018 floods, Kodagu district suffered immense damage, and on the one hand, there was a loss of life. The then government, in a show of solidarity with those who lost their homes due to the heavy floods, took back about 50 acres of land under the Horticulture Department in Jambur village under Madapura Gram Panchayat of the taluk for the victims of Madikeri and Somwarpet taluks and handed it over to the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation Limited for an ambitious project to provide shelter to the victims, and constructed well-furnished houses.

The then MLA Appachu Ranjan, in-charge Minister S.R. Mahesh, Housing Minister U.T. Khader, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwar's request and the urgent initiative of the then Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the work was launched at the end of 2018.

Initially, it was decided to build houses for the victims, and 50 acres of land was reclaimed from the Horticulture Department and handed over to the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation through the district administration. The work was started on 07.12.2018. After two years of continuous work, 383 houses were constructed in the first phase.

Later, on 04.06.2020, in the presence of the then Chief Minister of the state, Yediyurappa, Housing and District In-charge Minister V. Somanna, and Revenue Minister Ashok, the inauguration of Field Marshal Cariappa Layout and handover of houses to the beneficiaries took place at a program held under the chairmanship of the then MLA Appachchu Ranjan.

Meanwhile, the Infosys Foundation, which is under the care of Sudha Murthy, who is a current Rajya Sabha member, and Narayana Murthy, founder of Infosys, has also been working to bring tears to the eyes of the victims of Kodagu. 200 houses have been constructed in the same area by Infosys Foundation and handed over to the District Collector.

Currently, the construction of 583 houses has been completed at the Jambur Rehabilitation Center, and 488 beneficiaries have been identified. Of these, 459 people have been handed over the keys of the houses so far. Out of the 383 houses constructed by the state government, the beneficiaries have been identified and the keys have been handed over to all the houses. Out of the 200 houses constructed by Infosys Foundation, the beneficiaries have been identified for 105 houses. Of these, 76 people have been handed over the keys so far.

The government has provided a grant of Rs 9.45 lakh per house through the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation, and a total of 383 houses have been constructed. Including the 200 houses built by Infosys Foundation and the 383 houses built by the Rajiv Gandhi Corporation, there are a total of 583 houses in this rehabilitation village, and the selection process for beneficiaries is currently underway for 95 houses

The Revenue Department has identified the victims of Madikeri and Somwarpet taluks and submitted a report to the District Collector, and the selection of beneficiaries is being done based on the report of the officials. Looking at the current rehabilitation layout, there are doubts about the authenticity of some of the victims. People are not living in more than 30 houses in this slum. Forest has grown around some of the houses and the houses have been closed. Some of them have taken the keys and have not come back. There are also doubts that some have rented them to others. Local residents are of the opinion that if the records of the local Gram Panchayat are checked, clarity will be obtained.

Some people come once a month to clean the area around their houses and do not live here. Others have not come for a year. In the meantime, some houses are being cleaned as the special revision of the voter list is underway. Locals themselves have expressed the opinion that if the records of the beneficiaries of the houses are checked by the Gram Panchayat and the Revenue Department, the authenticity of the beneficiaries will be known.

Infosys Foundation has constructed 200 houses and a separate water tank has been built for this area. The newly selected beneficiaries have to get electricity connection themselves. In this context, the beneficiaries have met MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda and requested that free electricity meters be installed in the houses. The MLA has responded positively to their request.

Overall, the government and Infosys Foundation have rushed to the aid of the genuine victims and have provided them with a permanent shelter. It is apparent that some fake beneficiaries have infiltrated this too. Those who have their own houses elsewhere have also acquired houses here. Some have rented out these houses and are living in rented houses in the towns. There has been a demand from the locals that these should be re-examined and action should be taken against the fake beneficiaries while preserving the genuine beneficiaries.

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