Pics: Thejaswi U Poojary
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Jul 4: State health and family welfare minister U T Khader Fareed directed all government departments to work in coordination to effectively tackle natural calamities during the monsoon season and ensure an immediate response whenever flood-related issues arise.
Chairing a review meeting at the Dr V S Acharya Hall in the zilla panchayat office at Rajathadri, Manipal, the minister reviewed the damage caused by the rains and the drinking water situation in the district.
Minister U T Khader said that during the coming days, if heavy rainfall leads to floods, lightning strikes or other disasters, village accountants and panchayat development officers (PDOs) should immediately visit the affected families, provide emotional support and confidence, and ensure that government compensation is disbursed as per norms. "People should never feel that no government official came to their aid," he said.
Khader instructed officials to provide an immediate relief of Rs 5,000 to those affected by natural calamities. In the event of a death, compensation of Rs 5 lac should be provided. If a house is completely damaged, the affected family should receive Rs 1.20 lac as compensation, along with an additional Rs 3.75 lac under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation scheme for the reconstruction of the house.
Stating that the government has introduced several welfare schemes for the benefit of the public, he urged officials to ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive these benefits without delay and in accordance with the rules. He also asked grassroots-level officials to identify local issues in villages and bring them to the notice of higher authorities and elected representatives for timely resolution.
The minister observed that while implementing laws, officials may face certain practical challenges. However, he advised them to implement the rules with wisdom and a humanitarian approach so that people receive the intended benefits.
As the monsoon has begun, he directed officials not to conduct classes in school buildings where classrooms are leaking or are in need of repairs. He also reviewed the distribution of textbooks and uniforms to schoolchildren and instructed officials to complete the distribution of pending supplies immediately.
Minister Khader instructed the animal husbandry department to ensure an adequate stock of drinking water and fodder for livestock. In case of deaths of people or animals due to heavy rains, compensation should be released without delay.
He warned that communicable diseases are likely to increase during the monsoon and instructed the health department to remain fully prepared. Public awareness campaigns should be organized on disease prevention and health education. He also directed officials to cancel the licences of commercial establishments found creating mosquito breeding grounds. Fogging and other preventive measures should be intensified in areas reporting outbreaks of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya.
He instructed local bodies to take effective measures to control the stray dog population and prevent inconvenience to the public by intensifying animal birth control (ABC) sterilization programmes.
The minister also directed the agriculture department to ensure adequate availability of seeds and fertilizers during the monsoon sowing season. Farmers should be educated on controlling pest attacks in horticultural crops and encouraged to enroll in crop insurance schemes.
To ensure prompt response during natural disasters, Khader directed the forest department, Mescom, rural development department, and urban local bodies to establish coordinated response committees for the next three months of the monsoon. Police, fire and emergency services, and home guards personnel should remain prepared as dedicated rescue teams to respond swiftly to emergencies.
He instructed public works department engineers to immediately repair potholes that develop on roads due to rain. Any delay caused by negligence could lead to accidents, damage the government's reputation, and attract public criticism of elected representatives, he said. He also directed officials to ensure that roadside drains are properly maintained for the smooth flow of rainwater.
Reviewing law and order, the minister sought information from superintendent of police Hariram Shankar on measures taken to control thefts, house burglaries, narcotics-related offences, and other crimes. He instructed the police department to maintain law and order while taking effective steps to reduce crime in the district.
The meeting was attended by MLAs Yashpal Suvarna, Gururaj Shetty Gantihole, Kiran Kumar Kodgi, Gurme Suresh Shetty, Coastal Development Authority chairman M A Gaffoor, Brahmashree Narayana Guru Development Corporation chairman Manjunath Poojary, deputy commissioner Swaroopa T K, zilla panchayat CEO Prateek Boyal, superintendent of police Hariram Shankar, conservator of forests Ruthen, and other officials.