Various NGOs and political parties joined hands with the city and provincial governments on Monday for relief work in Joseph Colony where more than 100 houses were ransacked and burned on Saturday .
Joseph Colony residents chanted slogans in favour of the Punjab and city governments during the cheque distribution ceremony at Town Hall after being informed of the enhanced compensation (Rs500,000). DCO Noorul Amin Mengal said every couple will be considered a family unit regardless of whether they lived in one house (if three couples lived in one house, each would get Rs500,000).
Earlier, a Baitul Maal representative had announced Rs50,000 compensation for every family. The Punjab government had initially announced compensation of Rs200,000 per family.
Construction got underway on many of the buildings that had been burned. According to the DCO, the city government had been given three days to re-construct the houses. He said they had given the work to 20 contractors who were working on five to six units each. The DCO told the residents that the house would be built free of charge and compensation given for any bikes or rickshaws that were destroyed.
Dozens of tents had been set and others were in the process of being set up. The city government plans to set up a total of 300 tents. Several NGOs distributed food throughout the day in the tents.
Mengal briefed residents on how to cash their cheques. The city goverment and the Punjab government have made arrangements for speedy opening of accounts for those who do not have them. The residents were asked to leave their homes and shift to tents immediately as their presence would obstruct the construction work.
Out of the 269 affected families, 50 had been already given cheques, 150 were given compensation on Monday and the remainder would be compensated on Tuesday. The city government said the cheques would take three days to cash.
Yousaf Masih, a resident of Joseph Colony, said that he was happy with the arrangements made by city government. He said the compensation coupled with the building of their house and money for any bikes or rickshaws would almost cover them. Mustaq Masih, another resident, chimed in his agreement.
Resident Hamid Chiragh said the compensation was insufficient. He said that while many had not lost the amount the government was giving, his own loss was close to Rs4 million.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2013.