Enumeration nearing completion, monetary relief to reach flood-hit

Around 60,000 beneficiaries who were absent when enumerators visited their houses are now being resurveyed, officials wanting anonymity said. The exercise was undertaken by 21 teams each headed by a deputy collector and DRO (Divisional revenue officer) included 3450 persons drawn from 21 districts excluding Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram and Cuddalore. Undertaken on a war footing, the records are finalised daily and computerised with bankers lead by the district lead bank, ensuring that all banks details are available for the relief amount payment. 

However, this experience for out-of-town enumerators was a revelation. Officials said initially, enumerators were annoyed at the apparent lack of respect in the locals speech till they understood that this was the Madras lingo. The enumeration was very simple keeping in mind that most had lost all documents in the floods. But when locals realised that ration cards as the basis for enumeration and that aadhar card and driving licenses were accepted, members of a family would claim that the ration card was lost and that they were living separately showing their aadhar card/driving license to prove their bonafides. 

Another issue that cropped up was for house damage, the amount would go to the house owner and not to the tenant. Hence in many areas, where tenants lost their valuables, Rs.5000 each would be given to house owners and tenants. 

But many upscale area residents openly stated that they did not want government relief even if their houses were affected, specially in areas where north Indians lived. Similarly, many in Annanagar refused to accept relief stating that their areas did not suffer any damage or loss. “Why should we accept relief when the money should go to those really affected” said Subramani of the area. 

The state government will be spending nearly Rs.1 crore for enumeration, enumerators payment alone amounting to Rs. 8.62 lakhs per day at Rs.250 per head per day for 3450 staffers. They are currently staying in 21 marriage halls at 2 halls for each of the ten taluks in Chennai city with Egmore taluk being allotted 3 halls.