Couple protests after losing home in rain, aid denied

By-Yogesh NagarkotiBAGESHWAR: A couple is on an indefinite sit-in protest outside the district collectorate in Bageshwar, demanding compensation for their house destroyed in last month's heavy rainfall.

Despite a revenue officer's visit and inspection, they received no official help.Manoj Kumar, 45, and his wife Manju Devi, 38, residents of Pagna village, said on Tuesday that their house was severely damaged in the July 3 downpour. With no roof over their heads, they've been sleeping in the open while their three children have been sent to stay with relatives for safety."We've been living here for 10 generations. Now they say the land is unmeasured and our house is illegal," said Manoj, adding, "Where are we supposed to go?"Their case highlights a broader issue faced by many in the hills, especially among scheduled caste families, who live in ancestral homes built on land without formal ownership papers. When disaster strikes, they often find themselves left out of official compensation lists. "We can risk our lives, but not our children," said Manju. "There are leopards in the area. We sent them away so they'd be safe."The couple's agricultural land, they alleged, was already impacted by nearby soapstone mining even before the rains. The damage has left them with nothing.