5 months on, 17 families of Seraj yet to receive grants to build damaged houses, living in tents amid chilling cold

Former CM Jai Ram alleges discrimination in distribution of relief for rain damage

The Newz Radar
MANDI: Despite repeated assurances from the Himachal Pradesh government and the district administration, numerous flood-affected families in Mandi continue to await relief and compensation promised by the state government.
The prolonged delay has resulted in significant challenges for these families, who currently find themselves in what they describe as “great distress”.
On Thursday (December 21, 2024), 60 members from 17 families in remote Lugadi village, located in Kalani panchayat of the Seraj constituency, met Mandi Deputy Commissioner Arindam Choudhary. They submitted a memorandum, urging the swift release of the promised relief and compensation, as they are still residing in tents and tin sheds, awaiting the construction of permanent homes. This situation persists despite several assurances and claims made by the government over the past five months.
The families contested the report submitted by the patwari, asserting that houses deemed 80 per cent damaged should be set aside, as they are unsuitable for habitation and require reconstruction after demolition. Enduring severe cold in tents and tin sheds, some families have sought refuge with relatives since their houses became unsafe following the recent devastating rains.
During a conversation with TNR, Megh Singh, Chuni Lal, and Dev Raj said that despite joint inspections by the SDM, kanungo and patwari, and the documentation of facts, no compensation had been released by the administration. They expressed frustration that, despite the completion of the geotagging process under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, compensation had not reached them, prompting them to visit the DC office to voice their grievances.
Alleging surprise over the selective distribution of relief, they claimed that while they have been awaiting relief for the past five months, some families in the village received it without much effort. The Deputy Commissioner, when contacted, stated that Rs 3 crore was pending disbursement in the Seraj constituency and would be distributed as soon as the verification report is submitted by local revenue officials. About the allegations of selective compensation distribution, he directed the Thunag SDM to promptly look into the matter.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Jai Ram Thakur, when contacted over the phone, accused the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of discriminating against people based on their political affiliations while distributing relief in the rain-battered areas. The former chief minister alleged that there have been complaints that individuals who did not suffer any loss received relief, while the actual victims of rain and floods were deprived of aid.