* Flood victims to get assistance in their accounts
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday announced a special package of Rs 745-crore, for the flood-affected people of the State, saying that other requests made by the State Government would be considered after verification. He said that money will be deposited directly in the bank accounts of those whose houses were damaged. Earlier, PM visited Siachen Glacier where he lauded the armed forces for protecting the borders.
Modi after meeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, State Government officials and various political, social and trade delegation during his visit, announced a package of Rs 745 crore for flood victims of the State. The Rs 175 crore are for renovation of six major hospitals and Rs 570 crore for rebuilding homes damaged in last month’s floods.
Prime Minister said other requests made by the State Government would be considered after verification. He also directed that school children who had lost books etc in the flood, should be provided the necessary study material immediately.
Modi assured the people of the State that the entire nation stood with them in the rebuilding process, after the floods.
Prime Minister said that a common thread running through the interaction with all groups was the suggestion that affected people should be given help directly.
The Prime Minister said this request would be seriously considered. “For instance, the Prime Minister said, it could be considered that assistance for rebuilding houses could be given directly to bank accounts of beneficiaries”, said Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami who briefed the media on the visit of the PM.
Goswami said Modi also announced free replacement of books and notebooks to all the children upto primary and upper primary schools.
The Union Home Secretary said the package announced by the Prime Minister was not linked to the memorandum submitted by the State Government seeking a special package of Rs 44,000 crore for rehabilitation of flood victims. “Appropriate funds will be released after examination of the memorandum by the Central Government”, he added.
Goswami said that the Prime Minister has stated that good governance, quick restoration of public infrastructure, revival of economic activity and creation of a conducive environment for bringing tourists to the State is the key to bring back normalcy.
The Union Home Secretary said: “The Prime Minister said his visit to Srinagar on the occasion of Diwali will send out a signal that everything is fine in the Valley and this will help promote tourism.”
Earlier in the morning, the Prime Minister flew to Siachen Glacier where he lauded the armed forces and promised a national memorial for Indian soldiers.
Dressed in battle fatigue woollen jackets, a red scarf and goggles to protect the eyes from blizzards, Modi promised to enforce a One-Rank-One-Pension scheme for the armed forces during his tenure.
“I am fortunate that as a servant of the nation, I got to see in what circumstances the soldiers have to live here,” Modi said, addressing troops in Hindi in freezing temperature at the world’s highest battlefield.
The PM told soldiers: “I come to celebrate my first Diwali as PM with you. Happy to be among my own. You make it possible for 125 crore Indians to celebrate Diwali happily. Your dreams and responsibilities are the responsibility of us all. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with you.”
Addressing officers and soldiers at Siachen Base Camp at a height of over 12,000 feet, Modi praised their valour and courage, saying that 125 crore Indians could celebrate Diwali today, and go about their lives in comfort, because the jawans stood guard at the borders, prepared to make every sacrifice for the nation. The nation is proud of all three wings of the armed forces.
The Prime Minister said he had come unannounced, and the jawans may be surprised, but one does not need to announce arrival when coming to his own (family).
The Prime Minister said the jawans at Siachen worked in one of the remotest places in the world. It is a rare opportunity to be called upon to defend the country in such difficult conditions, he said.
Modi said he is privileged that his first Diwali as Prime Minister will be spent partly with the jawans of Siachen, and partly with those affected by the floods in Srinagar.
The Prime Minister said the Indian Armed Forces were unique – because while they spelt trouble for the enemy on the battlefield, they spelt life for all the countrymen affected by disasters or natural calamities. He recalled the immense contribution made by the Armed Forces during the recent floods in Srinagar.
Modi also appreciated the fact that women too were now contributing to the Indian Armed Forces in a significant way.
Sharing the pain and anguish of those who lose their loved ones in these difficult conditions, the Prime Minister said sometimes a body is found years later, and many still wait. He said one has to witness first-hand, the conditions at Siachen to appreciate the hardship that the jawans go through.
The Prime Minister assured the jawans that wherever they are, and serving or retired, the country stands shoulder to shoulder with them. He said their dreams and responsibilities are the entire country’s responsibility. He said he would do his utmost to ensure a life of dignity for them.
Modi said the promise of One Rank, One Pension had been fulfilled, and preparations were being made for a National War Memorial, that we could all be proud of.
Modi later handed over a cheque for Rs. 5 lakh for the welfare of the jawans, and personally offered sweets to the jawans. He wrote in the visitors’ book, saying that the soldiers in uniform who guarded the nation’s frontiers in such difficult conditions were no less than `rishis` and sages.
Earlier, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah briefed the Prime Minister about the status of relief and rehabilitation operations in the flood-hit State and sought liberal financial assistance from the Centre to rebuild the devastated areas.
The Prime Minister arrived yesterday afternoon to spend Diwali with the flood-hit people of the Valley. He was received at the airport by Governor N N Vohra and the Chief Minister.
The Prime Minister held a meeting at the airport which was attended by the Governor, the Chief Minister and some top officials of the State administration.
During the meeting, Omar briefed the Prime Minister about the relief and rehabilitation operations going on in the flood-hit areas, officials said. He pitched for a liberal financial assistance from the Centre for rebuilding the devastated areas in the State.
After taking stock of the situation at the airport, Modi flew in a helicopter to Raj Bhawan to hold interactions with delegations of political parties, business community and civil society.
The Home Secretary said Prime Minister, met various groups of flood-affected people in Srinagar to understand their problems first-hand, and listen to their suggestions on the rehabilitation process following the recent floods.
These included delegations from Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Social Organizations and NGOs, Civil Society Organizations, Transport Operators, Tour and travel operators, fruit growers, dealers and horticulture institutions, educational institutions, youth organizations, religious communities and political groups.
The political and non-political organizations in their meeting urged the Prime Minister to ensure liberal funding for reconstruction of the State which was hit by floods.
Both ruling National Conference and opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) pressed for generous funding for rebuilding the State while NC ally, Congress stayed away from meeting the PM.
The NC delegation led by party leaders including Nasir AslamWani and Devender Singh Rana met the PM. National Conference demanded sanctioning of State Government-recommended Rs 44000 crore relief package for rehabilitating the flood victims and rebuilding infrastructure in public sector; income tax holiday for 10 years; special package for promotion/revival of Tourism in J&K and package for rehabilitation of border migrants.
The PDP urged the Prime Minister to constitute an expert committee under the PMO to oversee rehabilitation and reconstruction in the State. The party delegation which met the Prime Minister was led by Muhammad Dilawar Mir and included Abdur Rehman Veeri, Naeem Akhtar, Dr Haseeb Drabu and Syed Altaf Bukhari.
The party impressed upon the Prime Minister to initiate tangible measures to set into motion a comprehensive process of rehabilitation of the flood-affected people.
The Congress, the NC ally, stayed away from meeting the Prime Minister.
A civil society formation-Kashmir Center for Social and Development Studies (KCSDS)-told the Prime Minister that “unprecedented delay in relief and rehabilitation measures is quite disturbing and infuriating.” It impressed upon New Delhi to expedite the process of compensation of losses to the flood affected people.
A statement issued by the KCSDS member, Shakeel Qalander, said: “Looking at the magnitude of losses, it may be difficult for the Central Government to take up the task of reconstruction and rehabilitation of around 50 lakh flood affected people. Therefore, international aid by the United Nations, foreign countries, NGOs and individuals from across the globe should be allowed to flow into Kashmir as per the standard practice in the world during such disasters.”
The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, NN Vohra and the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office, Dr. Jitendra Singh were present during the interaction with various groups.
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