Govt to start rehabilitation of flood victims from April

JAMMU:
The Government will commence relief and rehabilitation of flood affected people in the State from April first week by focusing on restoring their livelihood by reviving the economy, Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu said today.
“We will start relief and rehabilitation of flood-hit people in the State from first week of April,” Finance Drabu told reporters here today.
Apart from rehabilitation of homeless people, the revival of the business sector would be the focus of the State Government, he said.
“The floods have devastated the economy of J&K. Apart from houseless people, the revival of the business sector would be our focus. Large part of the budget talks about the floods. Soon we return back to business, sooner the economy will grow. The (construction of) houses are not the focus and focus is business,” the minister said.
“Once the business is revived, they can earn and pay taxes. The main issue is how to revive it and give relief. The previous Government has submitted a large sum of package of Rs 44,000 crore to the Centre. We will pursue that,” he said.
Drabu said “actual” money would be given to people who have lost their livelihood so that they can build it again. The focus would be providing relief in a three-phased exercises from the first week of April to those whose businesses are not insured, he said.
“We have sought the assistance of the World Bank and other such institutions. We are hoping to get in next fifteen days Rs 250 million disbursement from World Bank,” he added. (AGENCIES)