In an attempt to issue integrated and standing orders instead of separate orders every time there is a scarcity in Gujarat, the state government has announced a relief policy today, which will empower even the district level government officers to initiate relief work during scarcity or drought, which was earlier vested only with top government officials from the Revenue Department.
The new policy covers 10 aspects such as, power to sanction relief works, powers to sanction technical approval etc. to the district collectors of the affected area.
According to the new policy, now a collector will be empowered to sanction relief works upto Rs 50 lakh which had a previous ceiling of only Rs 5 lakh.
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The collector or any such designated official will also be able to take up relief works upto Rs 25 lakh.
Previously the executive engineer of concerned scarcity-affected area was empowered to sanction technical works upto Rs 5 lakh and now he will be able to sanction technical works upto Rs 10 lakh.
The policy also introduces benefits to people covered under it such as cash doles to the persons infirm, handicapped, pregnant women and children of the family of the relief worker and also arrangement for medical treatment, shade and drinking water at the work site.
All these minimum facilities were not existing before the introduction of this new policy.