In rush for normalcy, survivors being herded beneath hot tin roofs

The problem is, with temperatures topping 38 degrees Celsius by noon, life promises to be a virtual hell under these shelters with tin or zinc roofs.

Angry fishermen say these roofs could also be easily blown away by strong winds sweeping the Nagapattinam coast this time of the year. They say they have already lodged a protest against this move.

Officials, however, point out that there is no other option as the government plans to reopen schools and marriage halls, currently serving as relief camps, before Pongal.

In fact, the issue of rehabilitating fishermen in temporary shelters was discussed between senior officials and NGOs last week. And, according to S Jaibal, chief of Nagapattinam Fishermen’s Union, the government had agreed to provide shelters with roofs made of lightwood or artificial pulp material.

‘‘Thatched roofs were suggested but were struck down because of fire hazards. Senior officers who were present in the meeting had assured us that the roofs would be of lightwood. But they have suddenly changed their decision. It is not acceptable,’’ says Jaibal.

A Government Resolution issued on January 6 through the Revenue Department, reads: ‘‘The Collectors are given specific instructions that the design of the temporary structures and the location is acceptable to the fishermen in each habitation. It should not be seen as a government plan to forcibly relocate them though many have expressed the desire to relocate.’’

However, with just four days left for the deadline and more than 11,000 shelters yet to be constructed, the district administration has gone ahead with material that’s easily available. Already, 131 shelters with tin roofs have been erected in Nagapattinam.

Says Shantasheela Nayar, Secretary, Rural Development, who is looking after relief and rehabilitation here: ‘‘A large number of tin and zinc sheets have been donated by people, which are probably being used. We had issued specific instructions that only light material or corrugated pulp material should be used for roofs. But we are in the process of acquiring them.’’

In Serthur, Pattinacherry and Akkaraipettai, fishermen say they are simply not used to living under tin roofs. ‘‘They will become extremely hot during the day,’’ says S Raju, a fisherman from Akkaraipettai.

Nagapattinam District Collector Veerashanmugha Moni says the roofs can be changed at any time, if required. ‘‘First, we have to shift the people out of relief camps. We are also providing toilets and clean drinking water facilities in the shelters. There will be privacy for families too. If the beneficiaries feel uncomfortable in the shelters, we will change them,’’ he says.

Most of the fishermen have now turned to cooperatives and unions to fight on their behalf, starting with representations to the government.

In Nagapattinam alone, there are 88 relief camps housing over 60,000 people. The Government Resolution has suggested that while the state will provide shelters to 50 per cent of beneficiaries, the rest can be provided by NGOs.

Initially, the government had planned to erect huge common shelters—Rs 40 crore were sanctioned, including for acquiring land, if necessary.

‘‘But the NGOs objected. After several rounds of discussions, the government agreed to provide cubicles for each family inside big shelters, and small individual huts in smaller shelters,’’ said an NGO coordinator.