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Mandi, Nov 10 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Sukhu on Monday announced that financial assistance for people who lost their belongings during natural disasters will be increased from Rs 70,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
He said, “No financial assistance of Rs 1,500 crore was received from the central government.”
Addressing a gathering in Mandi town, he said that despite limited resources, the state government is continuously moving towards making Himachal Pradesh a self-reliant state.
He stressed that “Atmanirbhar Himachal” is not a political slogan but the passion and commitment of his government.
The state had adopted 6,000 orphans as “children of the state” and was providing financial assistance for the children’s higher education.
He said that in view of the widespread destruction this year, the government is making every possible effort to help the disaster affected families with its limited resources.
The Chief Minister said, “It takes a whole life for a family to build a house, how can Rs 1.30 lakh be enough as compensation? The central government provides only this much amount to reconstruct a house, but I come from a normal family and understand the plight of common people. That is why we have increased the compensation from Rs 1.30 lakh to Rs 7 lakh for completely damaged houses and assistance for partially damaged houses. It has been increased to Rs 1 lakh.”
Accusing the BJP of politicizing the relief efforts, Sukhu said it would have been better if all BJP MLAs from Mandi district had attended the program despite invitation.
“BJP leaders are insensitive to the suffering of the common man and their only aim is to do politics and spread lies,” he said.
He said that even after two months of the Prime Minister’s announcement, Himachal Pradesh has not received any financial help.
He said, “I am ready to go to Delhi under the leadership of Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda. I have no ego, my only goal is to help the disaster victims.”
The Chief Minister reiterated his request to the Center to allow rehabilitation of disaster affected families on forest land.
–IANS
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