Dehradun: Former cabinet minister and Congress leader Harak Singh Rawat described the amount given by the government to the disaster affected as ‘cumin in camel’s mouth’. Describing the disaster management system of the government as a complete failure, he said that incidents of heavy rains, cloudburst and landslides are continuously happening in the state. Due to which the whole state has become chaotic.
Harak Singh Rawat says that Uttarakhand is the first state in the country where the Disaster Management Ministry was created at the time of formation itself. But even today no effective mechanism has been set up in the state. At present, the disaster budget has been kept at Rs 1012 crore, which is insufficient. He raised the demand to make the disaster budget at least two and a half thousand crore rupees, so that the government can wipe the tears of the affected.
He said that the amount of money being given by the government as relief to the affected families on the recent disaster in Dharali village of Uttarakhand is like ‘begging’. He said that disasters keep happening in Uttarakhand. But the government is giving very little assistance to the people affected by these disasters. Giving such a small amount of money to the disaster victims is equal to giving nothing. Although the pain of the disaster affected families cannot be reduced by giving financial assistance, at least their tears can be wiped by giving them proper disaster relief. Apart from this, the government will have to work in this direction to minimize the damage caused by the disaster.
Disaster management should be a 100 percent centrally funded scheme: Harak Singh says that during the UPA government, disaster management used to be a 100 percent central government scheme. But in the hill state, it has become 90 percent central and 10 percent state funded scheme. He raised the demand that like before, disaster management should be a 100 percent centrally funded scheme. Because the state government does not have so many resources for disaster management.
Demand for giving 25 lakh rupees: Harak Singh said that the CM already has many departments. In such a situation, the responsibility of disaster management should be given to some other minister. The department is running on the strength of Upanal and outsourcing workers. In such a situation, the structure of disaster management should be prepared at the tehsil level and the government should hand over the responsibility of disaster management to a responsible officer. Apart from this, if a person dies in a disaster, then in this era of inflation, only Rs 4 lakh financial assistance is being given, which should be increased to at least Rs 25 lakh.
The amount given to disaster victims is very less: He alleged that the amount given to those disaster victims whose houses and shops have been washed away in Dharali is also very less. The assistance amount of Rs 2 lakh to the injured is also insufficient. 40 to 60 percent disabled people are being given Rs 74 thousand. A disabled person should get compensation of at least Rs 10 lakh according to his condition. He demanded a special package from the Center for long-term disaster management.
