: The October 8, 2005 earthquake wrecked havoc on life and property in the bordering area of Karnah. Three years after the natural disaster hit Karnah villages, at least 99 children rendered orphans are still awaiting cash relief compensation announced by the union government under National Calamity Scheme for Victims (NCSV) scheme. To rehabilitate the victimised children and enable them to continue with their education, the union government under the scheme had announced a cash relief of Rs five lakh each in favour of the children whose parents died in the quake and Rs 2.50 lakh in favour of the children who lost either father or mother in the natural calamity. Out of 161 children rendered orphans due to disaster quake, Kashmir Times has learnt that only 62 children have been benefited by the scheme. The relatives of left-out poverty stricken victimised children alleged that children have been deprived of the benefits guaranteed under the scheme and the official apathy has forced affected children to abandon education. They said that in absence of much needed material and moral support; nearly 100 quake affected children have been forced to anticipate a bleak future and were facing starvation. It is in place to mention that under the union government scheme for quake victims, the cash relief compensation was to be deposited in the bank account of divisional commissioner Kashmir (office) and the same spent on the education of beneficiaries. There are at least 40 affected children deprived of relief compensation in Chamkote block alone. The relatives alleged that even after completion of requisite formalities they were being pushed mercilessly from pillar to post on different pretexts. "My wife Naseema died when our house collapsed in killer quake. I have three daughters but am deprived of the scheme for no apparent reasons. I have completed all the requisite formalities but am still making rounds of social welfare office Kupwara, at least 90 kilometers from the village. I do not know for how long the authorities will test my patience," alleged, Mohammad Sadiq of Chamkote adding that the authorities do not even tell him, if he is eligible for benefits under the said scheme. Likewise, a poor parent of Gandishot hamlet complained that his three children including two daughters were forced to abandon education and the poor family was facing starvation. Worried about the future of his children, the disgruntled parent asked why his children were being deprived of the scheme when the government had announced that it (the scheme) was aimed at providing financial assistance to victimised children. "I do not know why hapless parents like me were being pushed mercilessly from one office to another by the authorities. The authorities claiming to be safeguarding interests of poor and victimised people should be ashamed of turning deaf to our miseries," said Mohammad Abdullah of Gundi, Karnah. The relatives of children alleged that many of these unattended children have resorted to manual labour and begging to support their families. Expressing his disgust over delays in cash relief compensation, MLA Karnah, Kaifilul Rehman, said that he had taken up the issue in assembly many times but nothing