Finally, some respite for the grieving families. Compensation money the government had promised those whose loved ones went ‘‘missing’’ in the riots and bomb blasts that shook Mumbai in 1992-’93 have begun to be disbursed. This category refers to those whose bodies were never found. A seven-year wait was required before the ‘‘missing’’ could be pronounced dead. The government says the three-year delay happened because they didn’t have the right addresses, among other reasons.Today, 15 families were given their cheques of Rs 30,000 each. The remaining amount of Rs 1.7 lakh will be invested in postal certificates, on which families will receive monthly interest of Rs 1,300. The Indian Express spoke to some of the families:• Parveen Khan, wife of late Sohail Ahmad Khan; day he died: January 9, 1993; lives on Mohammad Ali Road ‘‘Don’t ask me how we survived the last 11 years. Only we know the story of our suffering,’’ says Parveen. For her, the money is welcome but no compensation for the hardships she and her two young sons faced following the disappearance of her 55-year-old husband. Khan and her two sons were forced to take up work. ‘‘Somehow we pulled through,’’ she said. ‘‘Rs 30,000 means nothing, my sorrow at his loss can never be compensated.I pray to Allah that such riots never happen again.’’• Ashish Attar De lost his father Lakshman Attar De; The day he died: January 13, 1993; Bhandup Ashish is bitter. ‘‘When we needed help, all the government and police did was file FIRs.’’ He remembers how and he and his brother had to discontinue their education and take up jobs as paper-delivery and milk-delivery boys. His mother contributed to the household income by selling papads.He says, ‘‘I was very surprised when the notification of the compensation came. Anyway now that it has come, it is good.’’ He ends by saying, ‘‘I want to say to all other riot victims and those who others who depend on the government, do not trust the government. Be self-reliant.’’• Anwar Mahibulla Khan (15) resident of Narayan Nagar, Ghatkopar (West) January 13, 1993. Today, his father, Mahibulla Khan and his mother went to Union Bank to deposit Rs 30,000. Abrar Khan (28), Anwar’s brother recollects, ‘‘Chandu (as they called him) left home in the afternoon saying he was visiting his aunt. He didn’t return in the evening. We began looking for him, waited two days and filed a complaint on Jan 15, 1993.’’Khan feels that if the compensation amount had arrived earlier, it would have definitely helped. But he sighs saying, ‘‘Better late than never.’’ Ask him if he is happy with the amount and he replies, ‘‘Human life cannot be weighed in terms of money. But then life has to go on.’’• Kachraram Ganesh Balotiya (32) resident of Thakkar Bappa Colony, Chembur. Widow Shanti Balotiya (38) recalls: ‘‘On the evening of January 7, 1993, my husband went to the market. He never returned.’’ Police failed to trace him and she was given her husband’s death certificate. But the body was not found.Working in a chappal factory, she barely manages to feed herself and her three children. However, she feels justice has been finally done.• Pandurang Jhanu Sabale, resident of Chembur. Saraswati Sabale’s husband, Pandurang Sabale was 35 when he went missing, ten years ago. A Municipal Corporation repairman, Pandurang left for work on December 6 never to return. ‘‘I thought he must have got beaten up and maybe lost his memory or was involved in some police crossfiring, who knows. I have to move on and fend for my three daughters and a son.’’With loans from relatives, she’s got her two daughters married off and hopes that the compensation will help her repay the debt. Now working in place of her husband as a peon at Indrajit Municipal School, Saraswati isn’t pleased with the compensation. She says if her ‘‘husband was alive, he would have earned more.’’
