Commercial relief

With relief pouring in from across the country, the tsunami-affected villagers here have reportedly started selling off the materials to loc...

With relief pouring in from across the country, the tsunami-affected villagers here have reportedly started selling off the materials to local shops to earn a cut on what the administration and voluntary organisations are already providing.

Local administrative officials admitted that they have received reports have from certain villages where tsunami victims are selling off the ration provided by the government and NGOs.

8216;8216;Only today my office heard that a group of villagers in Devanampattinam village are selling off the rice, pulses and other essential materials they are getting from the NGOS,8217;8217; said SDM S. Prabhakaran. 8216;8216;This will be a setback for the many agencies who have been tirelessly working in this district ever since the tsunamis struck. I will apprise the collector and the superintendent of police in this matter,8217;8217; he said.

8216;8216;Since we cannot upset the villagers, who are already in a sensitive state of mind after the loss, we will tackle the matter in the appropriate manner so as to put a stop to this practice and at the same time make sure that all the people get the aid adequately,8217;8217; Prabhakaran added.

Local nodal officers also alleged that fist-fights were happening between villagers everyday over acquiring relief material, which they later sold off.

8216;8216;Despite having issued them coupons and segregated them into categories as per their need, the villagers try to grab the maximum relief as possible. Some people in Devanampattinam have sold off the bed sheets, each costing about Rs 200, that were given to them by an NGO for as little as Rs 50,8217;8217; said a Rural Development official, who refused to be named.

8216;8216;The situation as it stands now is that the people who had lost everything in the tidal waves have now an excess of relief material,8217;8217; the official added.

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8216;8216;We will meet the collector tomorrow and confirm the news, but whatever be the truth behind this, we will carry on our relief work,8221; a member of an international NGO said. 8212; PTI