Her hopes of being reunited with her grandson died long ago. Now, 71-year-old Kalyani Mukherjee only hopes to get a certificate declaring her grandson Sayan as “missing”.
Fourteen months after the Sarojini Nagar blast, Kalyani is yet to receive the compensation due to her after son Satyabrata and daughter-in-law Supriya died in the blast.
"I have submitted all the papers and the death certificates but have not yet received the compensation. My grandson too died in the blast but his body could not be identified. Since I live in Kolkata, I cannot run around for the compensation. I have just given up hope," said Kalyani.
Kalyani had written to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in December 2005 for the claim of Rs 12 lakh. “I did not get any response from the Prime Minister’s Office but got a letter from Sheila Dikshit’s office assuring help. A policeman came from a police station in Kolkata and questioned me in May but after that nothing has happened,” she said.
“If my health had permitted me to come to Delhi, I would have.”
When contacted, Divisional Commissioner Naini Jayaseelan said authorities concerned would look into the details of the case. “I do not remember the details offhand but I will get the facts verified,” she said.
{{/usCountry}}When contacted, Divisional Commissioner Naini Jayaseelan said authorities concerned would look into the details of the case. “I do not remember the details offhand but I will get the facts verified,” she said.
{{/usCountry}}Kalyani’s position is better compared to Patrick and Roazina — who live in Ghana and have not been able to encash the cheque give by the Delhi Government. “We were the only African victims of the blast. The Prime Minister had visited us assuring compensation will be given to us. But when we presented the cheque in a local bank, it was not cleared. There is some confusion and I have been writing to the authorities concerned in Delhi but nothing has changed,” said Patrick.
The couple had come to India for Patrick’s treatment when they were injured in the serial blasts. After being treated at Safdarjang Hospital they were discharged and a cheque of Rs 50,000 each was sent to them in Ghana.
Email Vidya Krishnan: vidya.krishnan@hindustantimes.com