To have a say in beneficiary selection
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said that the government is considering delegation of powers to the grama sabhas to recommend beneficiaries for various welfare programmes of the State and Central governments.
The Chief Minister was discussing follow up action with Collectors of eight districts, where mass contact programmes had been held, through a video conference. Mr. Chandy said the grama sabhas were in a better position to select the beneficiaries as they had direct knowledge of the local situation and problems.
For AIDS patients
He said that a comprehensive package would be brought for the welfare and rehabilitation of persons affected by AIDS. Medical treatment, education of children, and rehabilitation would be included in the package.
The Chief Minister directed the Collectors to organise adalats at the taluk and district levels to dispose off thousands of petitions received from the eight districts during the mass contact programme.
The Minister in charge of the district would provide guidelines.
In case of debt related complaints, officials of the bank, cooperative or financial institution concerned should also be involved.
He agreed with the suggestion that lawyers should also be involved to settle legal issues. He asked the Collectors to carry out decisions taken on petitions received online within two weeks. Cases involving legal problems should be brought to his notice.
Though the maximum amount the Collectors could sanction from the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund is Rs.2,000, they can sanction higher amounts under the mass contact programme.
The norm that funds could be sanctioned from the fund to a person only once in two years was not applicable in the case of applications under the programme.
Applications for land and houses should be considered under the second phase of Zero Landless (Citizens) Project. Decisions should be taken on applications for conversion of ration cards from APL to BPL category following guidelines.
Members of Ashraya project, physically and mentally challenged persons, persons suffering from autism, AIDS and cancer patients, patients undergoing dialysis, widows, and bed-ridden patients could straight away be included in the BPL category. They would be eligible for free medical treatment.
The Collectors should take appropriate decisions on applications for jobs. The government would take steps to provide assistance to those interested in starting self-employment ventures, if they submitted projects.
Need of handbook
Noting that many people were not aware of the benefits available to them, the Chief Minister said that a handbook would be published to provide information on welfare programmes of the State and Central governments.
Collectors of Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Kozhikoke, Thrissur, Palakkad, and Malappuram districts detailed the follow up action taken.