IMPHAL: In a bid to address the pressing need of relief measures for victims of the ongoing ethnic strife, Manipur has sought a package of Rs 476 crore from the Centre.
Chief Minister Biren Singh, while inaugurating a Permanent Housing Scheme (PHS) for the displaced victims, informed about the package and said that the Centre and the state government are closely monitoring all relief initiatives within the state.
Breaking down the requested amount, Chief Minister Singh rinformed that Rs 6 crores would be designated for the second phase of financial aid (Rs 1000 each to residents of relief camps).
Additionally, Rs 360 crores have been earmarked for the implementation of the Permanent Housing Scheme; Rs 108 crores for the second installment of relief camp management, and an additional Rs 2.5 crore for the purchase of cycles for girls staying in these camps.
“Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government spent Rs 399.82 crore on providing different types of relief assistance to persons and families who were affected by the violence that broke out from May 3 this year,” he was quoted as saying by the press.
Discussing the newly launched PHS, Chief Minister Singh clarified that, currently, it is exclusively for victims whose houses have been destroyed or damaged.
More than 4800 beneficiaries across the state are set to receive financial aid, with Rs 10 lakh for pucca houses, Rs 7 lakh for semi-pucca houses, and Rs 5 lakh for kutcha houses.
The financial assistance will be distributed in two installments, and beneficiaries can apply for the second installment through the respective Deputy Commissioners by submitting photographs of ongoing constructions, he said.
The Chief Minister also distributed financial aid to selected recipients from Imphal East, Kakching, and Bishnupur districts for the construction of permanent houses under the scheme.