Kuber’s crew still ‘missing’,so compensation conditional

Ajmal Kasab and his Lashkar-e-Toiba colleagues boarded the trawler Kuber on their way to Mumbai. The body of Amarsinh Solanki,Kuber’s skipper,was recovered from the boat. Kasab has said that the other three fishermen were killed and their bodies thrown overboard. But since the bodies were never found,technically,these three men are still only “missing”.

“We have prepared the document on a Rs-50 stamp paper and informed the beneficiaries that they have to return this amount to the government if their dear ones return home alive in future. We have made three cheques of Rs 50,000 each,” Navsari taluka Development Officer B D Patel said.

The families of Mukesh Rathod (20),Balwant Tandel (34) and Natvar Rathod (30) have,however,long given up hope of their returning. All three have been symbolically cremated in their villages,Vansi and Borsi in Gujarat’s Navsari district. The families live a hard life,working as daily wage labourers to make ends meet.

“My children have given up studies,and they now work as farm labourers. I asked Minister Mangu Patel to help my 20-year-old son Umesh get a job,but all we have got is assurances. This Rs 50,000 is hardly any help,I have two daughters to marry,” said Balwant Tandel’s widow Damyanti.

Natvar Rathod’s widow Dharmishta Rathod,who now works as a labourer,said,”My children are very young and I have to leave them at home when I go for work. I am happy that the money is coming,but it is too little.”

The family of Amarsinh Solanki received Rs 5 lakh from the Maharashtra government.

Kanu Sukhadia, president of the local unit of the NGO SEVA complained the state government had abandoned the families. “We gave each of these families Rs 1 lakh – in a fixed deposit of Rs 70,000,and rest in cash. The Chief Minister has offered (slain ATS chief) Hemant Karkare’s family compensation and sympathy,but what is the government doing for these poor families,” he said.

Minister Mangu Patel had visited the villages in April 2008 and assured the families help. The Rs-50,000 cheques will be finally disbursed on November 20,from the CM’s Relief Fund said taluka authorities.