Huts still in tatters, Irula families on the outskirts battle de-mon, cyclone aftermath

Cyclone Vardah may be almost a distant memory for most Chennaiites now.
A dejected old woman sits in front of her hut that got damaged due to Cyclone Vardah. | Express Photo Service
A dejected old woman sits in front of her hut that got damaged due to Cyclone Vardah. | Express Photo Service

CHENNAI: Cyclone Vardah may be almost a distant memory for most Chennaiites now. But about 50 km away from the city, the cyclone’s aftermath is still testing the resilience of about 50 families belonging to the marginalised Irula community in Vinayagapuram hamlet near Guduvancherry.

The cyclone has left most of their huts in tatters. The   present cash crunch has tightened the purses of people for whom they work for wagess. This means they have little means to earn money at a time when they need it the most to rebuild their lives.

“The last wage I received was `3000 in July - all in `500 & 1000 notes. After much struggle, I deposited the money in the bank. But now when I needed the most, I am unable to withdraw it,” says Kalamma, a widow, who does odd jobs for wages including farm work. She says the farmers were not giving her work for last two months saying they don’t have cash to pay her wages.

Living just beneath the hillock - also an abandoned stone quarry - locally referred as ‘Konjimalai’, the people were little bothered when the announcement of the impending cyclone was made. “The terrain is sloppy here. So we were just thinking however much it rained, the water would run off,” says E Sankar, 42.

But none anticipated the heavy winds, nor did they expect the winds to ravage the huts to this extent. Most of the huts were roofed with either hatches or asbestos. The walls were built by either a thin  layer of hollow block or clay and stones.

At least ten of the huts are completely gone. In most others, the roofs have collapsed. Each of the family needs at least `10,000 to `15,000 to rebuild the huts.

On December 12 - the day the cyclone hit the city - the families continued to stay in the huts. But on seeing the winds taking away one hut after another, they decided to move to the nearby government school. The villagers were happy that the school building ensured safety of all of the residents. Their joy was short-lived when they returned to find most of their huts gone and they had to stay in the school for the next two days.

Looking at his collapsed hut at Kanniamman Koil Street, a pale faced M Dhanapal says he didn’t know whether to be happy that his family is safe or be sad about the ruined hut. While others are salvaging what is left of their huts, Dhanapal has sought temporary accommodation at a relative’s place. “About 10 years ago I built this hut by spending `20,000. I no longer have that much cash to rebuild it” he says. Poobalan, a resident of Oomaimariamman Koil Street, constructed his two-room thatched hut in 2008. “I have brought asbestos sheet on credit. Since the shop owner knows me well, he was kind enough to give it to me on credit,” he says. Unable to pay the wages, he was himself fixing up the roof.  

“I wish the government would help up monetarily to rebuild the houses,” says Valli N, who stays back in the now-ravaged hut to look after her two children.

When contacted, the Village Administrative Officer, Velayudham, said, “I have visited the area to personally ascertain the damage caused. In all, about 60 huts have sustained damage in varying degree. I have submitted my report to the tahsildar. As far as financial assistance is concerned, it is up to the district (Kancheepuram) Collector to decide.”

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