THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A pall of gloom descended on Chembakaramanthura near Pullivila on Monday when the body of Joseclin mauled to death by strays arrived at the hamlet. For the second time, residents of the coastal village near Vizhinjam had to bear the brunt of tragedy caused by official apathy. Last year, 65-year-old Siluvamma was fatally lacerated by a pack of vagrant dogs.
The villagers live in constant fear of stray dogs and over 50 persons have been attacked ever since the death of Siluvamma. However, these incidents went unreported.
While the government has provided Rs 5 lakh as compensation to Siluvamma’s family, its promise to set up toilets and remove garbage from the seashore is yet to be executed. Public toilets are the need of the hour in the hamlet as the hapless woman met a tragic end when she went to the beach to answer the call of nature. “Over 50 people have been attacked by dogs since Siluvamma’s death nine months ago,” Pulluvila parish priest Fr Jerome told Express.
“These cases have been reported to the police as well as the authorities concerned. However, no strong action has been taken so far,” he said.Except Siluvamma’s family, no other victim has been compensated so far and no solution to curb the stray has been taken, said Jerome.The civic officers had also promised to sterilise the stray dogs along the coast. However, it has also been shelved.
Karumkulam panchayat president G Hestin told Express a sustainable project for waste disposal was on the anvil. “Here, the major issue is the removal of garbage from the shore.”
Hestin said they were coming up with proposals to set up toilets. “It is a time-consuming process as we have to get funds from the government.”