The State Cabinet has approved a one-year moratorium on loans and a 20% cut in the State’s annual Plan outlay as part of the post-flood rehabilitation and recovery programme.
Briefing newspersons after a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the government had decided to offer the moratorium on repayment of agricultural, dairy and education loans availed by flood victims.
Cut in the Plan outlay
The 20% cut in the Plan outlay would not be applicable to Centrally-sponsored schemes, NABARD projects, public works, irrigation and water supply projects, and student scholarship.
Mr. Vijayan said the government would give priority to the revival of key projects such as the GAIL pipeline, City Gas network, National Highway development and power distribution network that had been affected by the floods. The Chief Secretary would coordinate the efforts to put the projects back on track.
Panels get nod
The meeting approved the constitution of official-level committees for the preparation of sector-wise packages for rehabilitation of flood victims and reconstruction of damaged assets. The Food Department would be entrusted with the supply of kits containing rice and essential commodities to be supplied to needy flood victims, including priority card holders, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme job card holders, Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, widows, differently abled and the destitute.
The MGNREGS job card holders would be given additional employment to help them recover from the loss of income and livelihood caused by the floods. The Planning Board would coordinate efforts to prepare a rehabilitation and livelihood restoration package and a livelihood conference would be convened on November 1, 2 and 3.
The meeting approved the recruitment of women to the Fire and Rescue Services for the first time in the State. It ratified the creation of 100 posts of firewomen in the service.
No compulsion
Answering questions, Mr. Vijayan reiterated that the government would not compel anyone to donate to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund for flood victims. “It is a question of attitude. We have received a good response from the public. Voluntary donations are pouring in.”