Tenants of house damaged in wind denied govt solatium

Kollam: Authorities have denied solatium to a family, whose rented house and articles in it were damaged in a natural calamity, citing that no such provision exists for tenants.

The revenue inspectors, who collected information on the damaged property, informed the family that they are not eligible for compensation for the loss as they are tenants in the house and only the owner can claim for damages. The officials also informed that electronic items, too, don’t qualify for compensation.

The occupants of Mathathil Thekkathil house at Mannamala, near Kilikollur, have now moved into another rented accommodation after a tree fell  on their rented house on July 15 amid a gale. The peepal tree crushed the entire roof of their house at Oruma Nagar, 6 km off Kollam city.

Sukumari and her mother Anandavalli Amma were stuck under the rubble. Neighbours extricated the mother-daughter pair from the debris. Sukumari’s family lost their household belongings including clothes. Their neighbours soon donated dresses.

The tragedy also affected, though not physically, two other members of the family: Sukumari’s son Shyam and daughter Revathi. Revathi is a temporary teacher at the Amrita School at Peroor. Her colleagues too pooled in some resources for the family’s aid. Shyam works in a textile shop, whose owner bore the treatment expenses of the two women. The businessman also let the hapless family to live at his place till they found a new rental.