Displaced people start receiving relief

State Ministers O. S. Manian and R.B. Udayakumar on Monday commenced the process of handing over the promised relief to the displaced people in Nagapattinam district.

In the first phase, people belonging to villages in Thalaignayiru and Thirukuvalai areas where the task of computerising data of damages was completed were provided with the financial relief.

Accompanied by the District Monitoring Officer and Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Gagandeep Singh Bedi and the District Collector, the Ministers handed over ₹10,000 per family along with relief materials worth ₹3,800 for those whose houses had been damaged completely.

Ninety families whose houses had been damaged completely received the relief. Likewise, for three families, compensation of ₹ 5,200 each along with ₹ 3,800 worth of relief materials were provided.

The money was transferred to the respective accounts of the affected families electronically. The account holders received instant messages on their phones about the money transfer.

The village-wise data of the cyclone damage was being computerised, Mr. Manian said. In all, 93 families received ₹ 12.69 lakh.

In Tirukuvalai block, 143 families were provided with relief worth ₹ 12.50 lakh. A part of the relief was handed over to them during the visit of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.

Mr. Udayakumar said the requests of the cyclone-affected people for waiver of college fee and SHG loans will be discussed with the Chief Minister and the Lead Bank Manager.

One lakh concrete houses in the district will be constructed by the State Government with the Centre's support.

The Government has posted 10 IAS officials, 10 officials in the rank of District Revenue Officer, and 10 officials in the rank of Sub-Collectors to expedite relief operations, Mr. Udayakumar said.