Jaya announces relief package, 10,000 houses, aid to farmers

Days after DMK chief Karunanidhi criticised her over flood assistance, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today announced a comprehensive relief package for the flood-hit, including 10,000 houses, a dole between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 as well as compensation for loss of crops and poultry for farmers.

A financial assistance of Rs 10,000 for those who lost their huts, allocation of 10,000 tenements besides an aid of Rs 5,000 will be provided to families hit by the deluge, she said.

"For families who lost their huts, a flood relief of Rs 10,000, ten kilo rice, a dhoti and saree will be given," she said in an official release here.
 

Also, for such families, permanent houses will be provided, it said.

"Immediately, 10,000 tenements will be allotted in Chennai," she said.

For other families hit by the floods, cash assistance of Rs 5,000, ten kilo rice, a dhoti and a saree will be provided, she said.

On December 5, DMK chief Karunanidhi had said Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy visited flood victims and offered comprehensive relief measures including Rs 4,000 each for ration card holders.

"Has an announcement like that been made so far in Tamil Nadu?", he had asked.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that the relief assistance will be deposited in bank accounts of beneficiaries and aid-in-kind like rice, dhoti and saree will be distributed through Public Distribution System outlets, she said.

Jayalalithaa stated that she has ordered an enumeration of affected families immediately, and that the aid will be disbursed in a few days after completing the listing.

"I have ordered building necessary houses for those who have lost their huts. For all those who have lost their huts, safe (pucca) houses will be provided," she said.

For those living along the banks of Adyar, Cooum Rivers and Buckingham Canal, who lost their houses, the Chief Minister said,"I have ordered immediate allocation of 10,000 tenements built by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board in Okkiyam Thuraipakkam and Perumbakkam.
Jayalalithaa also ordered a compensation of Rs 30,000 for

those who had lost cattle (cows, buffalo), Rs 3,000 for sheep and pigs, and Rs 100 for loss of poultry like chicken.

She also ordered expeditious completion of agriculture and horticulture crops affected by the rains and floods and announced the compensation package.

She said Rs 13,500 will be provided for paddy and other crops per hectare for damages of 33 per cent and above. For rain fed crops Rs 7,410 per hectare, for long term crops Rs 18,000 will be provided per hectare. The relief will be deposited in the cooperative bank accounts of farmers.

Those desirous of contributing towards flood relief can send the money to the Chief Minister's Flood Relief Fund, she said.

Meanwhile, in another release, the government said 15,32,746 persons were rescued, evacuated and accommodated in the relief centers.

A total of 600 boats were mobilised and 5,554 relief centers opened. About 1,00,94,470 food packets were distributed.

Also, 24,779 medical camps were conducted and 21,97,989 persons treated in these camps.

An immediate relief of Rs 67.47 crore was disbursed to 1,11,278 families. Also, 1,605 animal husbandry camps and 1,57,553 animals were treated, the release added.
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Meanwhile, opposition DMK said that the relief amount announced by Jayalalithaa was not enough considering the scale of the damage.

Party President M Karunanidhi told reporters the state government should press the Centre to release more funds to be used for relief and rehabilitation.

He also demanded for the distribution of aid through an all-party committee.

He said "it is not right" for Jayalalithaa having not visited Cuddalore, which bore the brunt of the monsoon fury, and other severely affected areas.