SRC asks collectors to make ex-gratia payment within 3-days

The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has directed the district collectors to provide ex-gratia to the next of the kin of those who died in the cyclone Titli and the resultant flood within three days.

The Odisha government has earlier announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased. The ex-gratia for the calamity victims is being paid from the SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund)

"Now, it is instructed that the ex-gratia for death due to approved disasters shall be paid to the next of the kins of the deceased within a period of three days from the death," SRC B P Sethi said in a letter to the district collectors.

 

Official sources on Monday had said that the death toll in cyclone Titli and the subsequent flood in Odisha was 27.

To ensure early payment, the SRC mentioned in the letter that it is required that the ex-gratia case be expeditiously processed by the concerned revenue inspectors (RIs) and Tahasildars, sanctioned by the collectors and paid out of funds available either in Tahasils, sub-collector's office or district office so as to complete the entire process within three days.

The SRC said that on requisition of collectors, funds will be given in advance.

Opposition political parties, however, demanded more amount as ex-gratia for the next of the kin of the cyclone and flood victims.

"We demand Rs 20 lakh for the victims families as ex-gratia. As such now the government has been making payment of Rs 4 lakh from the SDRF. The state is not contributing anything from its own resources. It should give more amount as ex-gratia," CPI(M) state secretary Alikishore Patnaik said.

Meanwhile, OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik, who visited cyclone ravaged Gajapati district Tuesday, demanded minimum Rs 10 lakh as ex-gratia to the family members of each deceased in this disaster.

Patnaik also demanded financial assistance for the persons who received injuries due to the calamity. He said the state government should continue relief and primary rehabilitation work on war footing in affected areas.

"The state government has completely failed in tackling the situation. If government could have planned and prepared itself as per advice of IMD, this huge destruction could have been avoided," the OPCC president said.