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All eyes are on the second file that K Chandrasekara Rao is expected to sign as the chief minister of Telangana. It pertains to the compensation for those who laid down their lives for the Telangana struggle is highly anticipated one.
According to unverified reports, 700 people committed suicide for the Telangana cause. While we will not try and get into the authenticity of these claims for now, rediff.com spoke to three families who were assured compensation years ago, but have got nothing until date
The family of Srikanth Chari has been waiting for compensation since 2009. Chari was one of the first to commit suicide after KCR launched his fast in 2009. His father Venkatachari feels that there has been too much delay.
“I am hopeful that KCR will live up to his promise. We would be happy if the government considers jobs for the family members. Anand was an active student leader who was very hopeful that Telangana would be formed. In December 2009, the then Home Minister P Chidambaram had made a statement promising the creation of Telangana, but then the Congress backtracked. He fought on, but could not take the delay and this pressure led him to end his life in 2011,” he says.
His brother has been fighting a whole another battle -- for compensation. Pavan has been interacting with politicians of all parties. He expected that he would get the compensation or at least, a job.
“It is disappointing. Sometimes I feel there is no respect. My brother’s was a genuine case,” he says.
Suman from Warangal did something dramatic when he jumped in front of a train. In his suicide note, he wrote that as long Telangana is not formed, the people would not get an opportunity.
“I can’t wait anymore and it is getting to me,” he had said before ending his life. His father Kumar, is hopeful that they would get some relief from the government, since his son was the breadwinner of the family.
“I heard KCR will sign the file, but I hope it does not get entangled in red tape and delay the process further,” he says.
An ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh is what the families of these martyrs would get once KCR signs the file on Monday. Most of the family members are in Hyderabad as a mark of respect and would be part of the swearing-in ceremony. They would, with all others, pay homage at the martyr’s memorial.
Meanwhile, another grand memorial is coming up at Warangal in honour of the martyrs. Coming up at Hanamakonda, this memorial is being put up through contributions. “There is no government aid involved,” says non-governmental organisation Orugallu Seva Samithi president Kishen G, who is a district collector, says that all the government employees from Telangana contributed from their salaries to build this memorial.