Nothing explains the pathetic conditions of people in the cyclone-affected Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Thanjavur districts better than a relief camp in Pinnathur near Muthupet.
Even though people of every village have set up temporary camps at junctions connecting their village with the main road to attract the attention of officials to get relief, people of Pinnathur are living in a camp set up near the village graveyard.
Space crunch
“We are people of South Jeeva Nagar of Pinnathar who have been forced to take refuge near the graveyard after the cyclone hit [our place],” says a banner at the entrance. “A total of 36 families are living here as there is no space for us in the school where 165 families are living. We have decided to stay here because the houses are unsafe as their foundations have been undermined,” said K. Rajendran, a villager. He said mosquitoes were a major menace and there was no drinking water.
“We depend on water supplied by lorries. But the supply is erratic,” said Mr Rajendran.
Landless farmers, mostly Dalits, continue to suffer despite the government’s efforts to provide relief.
“Since our village is away from the main road it cannot get the attention of officials or relief distributors. The big concrete houses surrounding our village prevent us from getting help,” said K. Pakkirisamy of Natchikulam, an area coming under Udhayamarthandapuram Panchayat in Tiruvarur district.
The villagers in Colony Street, Therkutheru and Indira Colony take shelter in a school. “NGOs distributing relief materials do not bother to give us anything. When they came to the neighbouring area we went and requested them. But they said it was for their people,” said S. Dhanalakshmi, a woman, overseeing the cooking for the village.
They get rice from the government.
United in distress
The situation was better in Udhayamarthandapuram where Muslims and other communities cook together and share food among themselves.
“People are staying in the concrete houses of the Muslims,” said P. Muniappa, who coordinates with the government to get relief material for the area.