Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed the district collectors to provide employment to the flood-affected persons in various labour intensive projects such as those implemented under the Centre’s flagship programme, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
He also directed for immediate release the payment of wages to the beneficiaries.
During video conferencing with the collectors of 19 affected districts, Patanik asked them to focus on relief and reconstruction work in the flood affected areas and ordered them to finish road and bridge works in 45 days. He also asked them to provide assistance to the poorest families through Gratuitions Relief Card.
Patnaik advised the collectors to strictly follow the state relief code and pay compensation to the kins of those killed in the devastating flood within the stipulated time.
In the meeting, the CM ordered the officials to monitor the public distribution system and ensure sufficient stock of essential commodities so that people under below poverty line got their ration of subsidized rice and kerosene in time.
To provide transparency in the relief work, Patnaik has asked the collectors about public display of the relief items received from different sources and their distribution. In case of grievance in relief distribution, he said, the additional or deputy collector may be engaged to solve the matter.
The CM stressed upon proper documentation of flood damage assessment and said after the assessment by September 25, due compensation may be paid by October 5. He said, retired revenue department officials could be engaged on contractual basis to expedite the assessment process.
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Suggesting the collectors to remain vigil about sanitation problems in the flood affected villages, he asked them to make provision for adequate number of mobile health units in their respective areas. He told them to keep a stock of water purifiers and medicines in all dispensaries.
It may be noted the state government has directed all district collectors to submit detailed reports on flood damage by September 20 as a Central team is scheduled to visit the flood hit regions of the state soon.