TNR News Network
Shimla:
In a landmark move, the Himachal Pradesh government has convened a record four-day cabinet meeting under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, with a special focus on finalising a comprehensive disaster relief package to assist residents affected by recent cloudbursts and floods during the monsoon season.
As per the draft relief proposal, individuals who have lost their permanent homes entirely due to natural calamities will receive financial aid of Rs 7 lakh. Of this amount, Rs 1.3 lakh will come from the Central Government under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), while the remaining sum will be provided by the state government.
Relief planned for all categories of damage
In cases where temporary or semi-permanent homes have been partially damaged, a relief amount of Rs 1 lakh will be granted, with Rs 12,500 contributed by the Centre and ₹87,500 by the state.
The proposed relief measures also include Rs 55,000 compensation for the loss of livestock such as cows or buffaloes (Rs 37,500 from the state and Rs 17,500 from the Centre), Rs 1 lakh for destruction of shops or roadside eateries, Rs 50,000 for completely destroyed cowsheds, Rs 10,000 for damage to orchards or cultivable land and Rs 5,000 for losses due to landslides.
Revenue officials will conduct field assessments to determine the extent of the damage and finalise disbursal.
Ambitious forest scheme to empower local communities
In addition to disaster relief, the cabinet will deliberate on the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana, an ambitious forest conservation initiative aimed at increasing the state’s green cover by planting fruit-bearing trees on barren or degraded forest land.
The initiative also seeks to empower local communities, including women groups, youth clubs and self-help groups, by creating employment opportunities through active participation in the afforestation process.
Given the shortage of field staff in the forest department and the increasing environmental challenges, this plan is seen as a vital step forward. Decisions regarding land allocation for plantation and honorarium for workers involved in the program are expected during the cabinet discussions.
Moreover, under the Green Adoption Scheme, the cabinet is also likely to greenlight the allocation of land to private companies for afforestation efforts. The proposal to extend the deadline for awarding the expansion work of Kangra airport is also on the meeting’s agenda.
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi will formally present the disaster relief agenda during the cabinet session, which marks one of the longest and most comprehensive cabinet meetings in the state’s history.
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