By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: While they are yet to get a roof over their head the Behrampada fire victims, who have been living in makeshift relief camps in suburban Mumbai since June 18 – the day their homes gutted in the fire – are facing end of food relief supply by the end of this month.
The local philanthropists and NGOs who have been providing them with the food relief have indicated they would stop it by July 31.
Muhammad Husain, a local corporator, told TCN, ‘For more than a month we have been providing them with meals from breakfast to lunch to dinner. Besides, we distributed among them utensil sets and every thing required for preparing food including some ration too. They rely only on relief food. If we continue distribution of food they won’t do anything from their own.’
Meanwhile there was a rumour making round that the camp constructed in Bismillah Compound where a considerable number of victims are staying will be demolished. However, Husain assured the camp will remain until all the victims are given roof.
Muhammad Rafeeq Khan Yusuf Khan, a victim staying under Bandra Sky Walk with his family complained of low quality food and told that many a time food is not available in time. He told some of them have got ration but there are many who could not. ‘We especially ladies face many difficulties as regards relieving themselves and taking bath etc.’
In Behrampada fire which caught the slum in the early hours of June 18, at least 11 persons were killed. The victims whose houses were set a fire are now in camps in Bismillah Compound and under the Bandra Sky Walk. The Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan recently reassured them of rehabilitation at the same place where their houses were.