Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 21: Governor N N Vohra today directed Principal Secretary, Finance Department, B B Vyas to expedite payment of insurance claims to those affected by the devastating floods of September last year.
The Governor passed this direction while reviewing the status of the insurance claims settled by various banks in the State in a meeting with Principal Secretary Finance and other concerned officers.
He asked the Finance Secretary to closely monitor the progress of all pending cases and expedite payment of insurance claims to those affected by the floods.
Earlier, Mr Vohra was informed that till January 10, 23740 insurance claims amounting to Rs 831.91 crore have been settled by the different banks. Of them, the J&K Bank has decided 21700 cases amounting to Rs 802 crore and State Bank of India 141 cases amounting to Rs 13.19 crore.
Punjab National Bank and Jammu & Kashmir Grameen Bank have settled 340 and 369 cases involving payment of Rs 4.60 crore and Rs.7.81 crore respectively. Ellaquai Dehati Bank and Bank of Baroda have decided 1118 and 72 cases amounting to Rs 3.50 crore and Rs 0.81 crore respectively.
Meanwhile, Governor asked the Chief Secretary to issue directions to all Administrative Secretaries and Heads of the Government Departments to notify specified dates/time when they will hear complaints and grievances of the public at large and thereafter ensure expeditious redressal.
“They should also establish a mechanism for monitoring the disposal of all complaints and the calendar for hearing grievances should be widely disseminated and publicised”, Mr Vohra said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Governor has already directed all the concerned Administrative Secretaries to ensure efficient, transparent and responsive functioning of the public service delivery system under their charge.