Chennai: A government order (GO), issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department clearly detailing the modus operandi for the distribution of the Rs 6000 relief announced by Chief Minister M K Stalin for flood victims, states that cash payments would be made through ration shops while bank transfers would be done for those holding ‘sugar’ ration card.
All those who suffered losses, including loss of livelihood, due to the unprecedented floods caused by Cyclone Michaung on December 3 and 4 in Chennai and parts for three adjoining districts would be paid the compensation, the GO said, adding that tokens should be issued in advance for those availing the benefit through cash payment to avoid needless rush at the ration shops.
The decision to make the cash payment was taken after taking into consideration facts like many ATMs conking out in the floods, the delay that might be caused in collecting bank details from beneficiaries and many people losing their ATM cards and bank documents in the inundation of their homes.
Income Tax payers and employees of the central and state governments and private sector holding the ‘sugar’ ration card could apply for the relief by giving details of their loss, along with bank account details, in the prescribed forms at the ration shops to enable the crediting of the amount to their accounts.
The GO also stated that while people living in the entire Chennai city would be eligible for the benefit, in the neighbouring districts only select regions have been identified as flood-hit. They are: in Chengalpattu district, Tambaram, Pallavaram and Vandalur taluks in full and three revenue villages in Thiruporur taluk.
In Kanchipuram district, the whole of Kundrathur taluk and three villages in Sriperumbudur taluk and in Tiruvallur district six districts of Ponneri, Gummidipoondi, Avadi, Poonamallee and Tiruvallur would be eligible to avail the benefit.
Officials have been instructed to train ration shop employees in the tasks of distributing tokens in advance to the beneficiaries and also in the disbursal of the relief amount while the police and district administration has been cautioned against crowding at the ration shops.
The funds of the disbursal of the relief amount would be drawn from the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) and implementation would be done in coordination with the departments of cooperation and food and consumer protection, the GO said.
