The Times of India 18.03.2013
Identifying beneficiaries of mosquito nets poses hurdle
CHENNAI: The Chennai Corporation's plan to distribute free mosquito nets
to the poor living near canals has run into rough weather over the
selection of beneficiaries. Following a spate of dengue and malaria in
the city, the corporation decided to distribute mosquito nets among slum
dwellers, migrant workers and others. But the corporation has now
realised that majority of the people living in shanties near canals and
other water bodies do not have ration cards, address proofs or any other
identification proof.
A senior corporation official said: "We have to follow a set of procedures before carrying out the distribution. But we have not finalised anything so far. We expect to distribute mosquito nets within two months." An official also said many people have encroached upon the canal banks and living there.
Experts say the civic body should ensure that the beneficiaries do not sell the mosquito nets to others and these are used for the intended purpose, hinting at possibility of mosquito nets being used for catching fish in ponds. When contacted, corporation commissioner Vikram Kapur said: "We will decide on distribution process once the procurement process attains some finality."
Doctors say the corporation should make sure that the benefit reaches to the poor who are living near canals as they are more vulnerable to diseases like dengue and malaria and invariably become the carriers of the diseases. "It's a tough task for the civic body. But the scheme should reach the poorest of poor in the city who are vulnerable to such diseases," said Dr S Elango, former director of the public health department.
The boom in the construction sector in and around Chennai has drawn thousands of migrant labourers to the city. And many of them live near water bodies to save some money from rent, without any residential proof. The mosquito menace is severe in places along the Cooum and the Adyar rivers and Buckingham, Captain Cotton, Otteri, Virugambakkam and Mambalam canals.
"It's difficult to get a house in the city. So I managed to set up a temporary shed here. Though the mosquito menace is at its peak, we don't have any other alternative," said Arul Kumar, who stays with his family near the Adyar river. "Civic workers rarely come here for fogging. Mosquito repellants are no longer effective," he said.
Social activist and former civil servant M G Devasahayam said there are possibilities of diverting the money meant for the mosquito nets to poor people. "The civic body should ensure transparency and proper accountability while distributing mosquito nets to the people," he said.
The boom in the construction sector in and around Chennai has drawn thousands of migrant labourers to the city. And many of them live near canal and river banks to save some money from rent, without any residential proof.
A senior corporation official said: "We have to follow a set of procedures before carrying out the distribution. But we have not finalised anything so far. We expect to distribute mosquito nets within two months." An official also said many people have encroached upon the canal banks and living there.
Experts say the civic body should ensure that the beneficiaries do not sell the mosquito nets to others and these are used for the intended purpose, hinting at possibility of mosquito nets being used for catching fish in ponds. When contacted, corporation commissioner Vikram Kapur said: "We will decide on distribution process once the procurement process attains some finality."
Doctors say the corporation should make sure that the benefit reaches to the poor who are living near canals as they are more vulnerable to diseases like dengue and malaria and invariably become the carriers of the diseases. "It's a tough task for the civic body. But the scheme should reach the poorest of poor in the city who are vulnerable to such diseases," said Dr S Elango, former director of the public health department.
The boom in the construction sector in and around Chennai has drawn thousands of migrant labourers to the city. And many of them live near water bodies to save some money from rent, without any residential proof. The mosquito menace is severe in places along the Cooum and the Adyar rivers and Buckingham, Captain Cotton, Otteri, Virugambakkam and Mambalam canals.
"It's difficult to get a house in the city. So I managed to set up a temporary shed here. Though the mosquito menace is at its peak, we don't have any other alternative," said Arul Kumar, who stays with his family near the Adyar river. "Civic workers rarely come here for fogging. Mosquito repellants are no longer effective," he said.
Social activist and former civil servant M G Devasahayam said there are possibilities of diverting the money meant for the mosquito nets to poor people. "The civic body should ensure transparency and proper accountability while distributing mosquito nets to the people," he said.
The boom in the construction sector in and around Chennai has drawn thousands of migrant labourers to the city. And many of them live near canal and river banks to save some money from rent, without any residential proof.
