Atishi directs CS to ensure expedite processing of ex gratia relief for flood-affected persons

New Delhi, July 29 (FN Agency) Delhi Revenue Minister Atishi on Saturday pulled up Chief Secretary over bureaucrats’ laxity in providing assistance to the flood affected. “Despite the strict instructions from the Chief Minister, bureaucrats failed to provide the much-needed assistance of Rs 10 thousand to the families affected by the floods,” said Atishi. Atishi took action by writing to the Chief Secretary for the delay in distributing aid. She said that it has been 10 days since the Delhi government announced the grant, but only 197 out of 4716 flood-affected families had received the Rs 10 thousand assistance by then, the official communiqué said. Expressing her concern, Atishi directed the Chief Secretary to deploy all available officers and prioritise the distribution of aid on a war footing on July 29 and 30.

The goal was to ensure that the financial support reached the bank accounts of all affected people by Monday, the statement said. Additionally, she insisted on receiving a status report on the distribution of aid by 6 pm on July 31, which she planned to forward to the Chief Minister and herself for review. Minister stated that out of the 4716 families who sought shelter in relief camps during the flood, only 197 families had received the Rs10 thousand ex gratia relief, which was announced by the Delhi Government, the statement said. She stated that this raised serious concerns about the efficiency of the relief and rehabilitation works in the aftermath of the flood. “Given the number of officers assigned for flood relief, it was expected that each officer would process the relief for 70 families, providing assistance to 7 families per day. However, the progress was far from satisfactory,” said Atishi. Atishi directed the Chief Secretary to ensure that all officers were deployed on Saturday and Sunday (July 29 and 30) to expedite the processing of ex gratia relief for the flood-affected persons, it said.