27-year-long demand for housing: Man faints at Collectorate

Madurai, Feb 13 (UNI) Distraught at the government, dragging its feet on providing alternate housing after his house was washed away in the 1979 floods, a washerman fainted after presenting one more petition to the District Collector here.

The 50-year-old washerman, Pandian, had been submitting petitions enlisting his demand since 1980. Like others who had lost their houses in the flood, he had been accommodated at the temporary shelter, erected then.

Earlier in the day yesterday, he waited in a long queue, and presented yet another petition to the Collector at the Grievances Redressal Day at the District Collectorate premises. Later, when he was about to leave the place, he swooned and fainted.

Police looking after the security arrangements, assisted him and sent him home.

A frustrated, Mr Pandian said the governments had changed and Collectors had come and gone, but his demand had not been considered so far.

UNI