Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 25: The State Government has disbursed over Rs 1200 crore among the families and traders affected by the September-2014 floods in Kashmir valley.
Reviewing the process of disbursement of funds at his office here, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr Asgar Hussain Samoon, said the monetary assistance will provide the much-needed relief to the flood affected people.
The meeting was informed that the State Government has disbursed Rs 728.64 crores under Prime Minister’s Development Plan to 109177 beneficiary families in all 10 districts of the Valley till March 24.
It was also given out that under the ex-gratia relief, the State Government has provided approximately Rs 178 crore for damage to 175426 structures which include completely damaged pucca (11333) and kuccha (979) houses, severely damaged pucca (37813) and kuccha (625) houses, partially damaged pucca (101497) and kuccha (2440), huts (3080) and cow sheds (17653).
Besides, the Government has also disbursed nearly Rs 16 crores as monetary assistance to hundreds of victims who were living in rented accommodations flood aftermath.
It was also revealed that under the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, nearly Rs 64 crores were given to 50825 traders hit by the deluge whose businesses were not insured. For the insured businesses, around Rs 3000 crores have been disbursed by various insurance companies in eight districts of the state.
Out of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), the Government has also disbursed Rs 3 lakh each to the family of nearly 75 victims who died during the floods. Officials said the families of 73 deceased have also got Rs 2 lakh each under the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.
Besides, under SDRF, the Government also provided Rs 3100 each to 54 persons who got injured during the floods and remained hospitalised for less than week. Six persons who remained hospitalised for over week were given Rs 9300 each under SDRF, officials said.
Meanwhile, Dr Samoon said that Government will open vocational training centres in different parts of the Valley to economically empower specially-abled children, destitute orphans and widows.
Chairing a high level meeting, he expressed concern over the plight of specially-abled children, orphans and widows in the State. The Divisional Commissioner directed all the Deputy Commissioners of Kashmir and Custodian General to identify vacant land in their districts for the purpose.
He also directed the Deputy Commissioners to set a timeline for identification of the land and its transfer to the Department of Social Welfare in order to expedite the process of setting up of such centres.
He said the unfavorable conditions had given birth to thousands of orphans and widows and majority of them have no source of income which makes them susceptible to social evils. He said such vocational centres will economically empower them and integrate them into the society.
Dr Samoon stressed for involvement of Non-Governmental Organisations for capacity building in these ventures. He said such category of people will be the focus of the government in coming days as avenues of employment would be created for them.
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