Posted on 01/10/2005 8:15:12 AM PST by NativeNewYorker
CHENNAI, India - In a refugee camp near Chennai, a middle-age woman tells local aid workers that she has ``lost'' her husband in the tsunami. But it wasn't the Dec. 26 monster tidal waves that swept her husband away.
Instead, it was the compensation payment from the Indian government. The fisherman took it and walked out of the camp, abandoning his family.
snip
But they aren't the only ones. Liquor stores have become a haven for demoralized Tamil Nadu fishermen and others who seemingly have nothing to live for, local officials say, forcing the Indian government to enforce stricter supervision on aid recipients.
Last week, the TASMAC wine and spirit shop in the poor Srinivasapuram district reported daily sales of more than 1 lakh, or about $2,500, compared with usual sales averaging about 45,000 rupees, or $1,050.
This tragedy is rapidly becoming a hole to throw money in.
"Liquor stores have become a haven for demoralized Tamil Nadu fishermen..."
Can't say I blame 'em.
You know when sales are going through the roof when you hit the 1 lakh mark...
I guess it was their lakhy day.
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