CHENNAI: A day after banning individuals, voluntary organisations and political parties from distributing relief materials directly to people affected by lockdown, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday clarified that its order has been misunderstood. The government said it had not banned distribution of relief materials.
The clarification comes after opposition DMK moved the Madras high court challenging the ban.
“The government only requested (all) to follow the necessary guidelines according to the circumstances. It has not banned anyone. The government only advised distribution of relief materials from individuals and non-government organisations in coordination with the district administrations so that they will reach the needy safely,” statement said.
The state government said that opposition leader M K Stalin, MDMK chief Vaiko and TNCC president K S Alagiri had been indulging in false propaganda alleging that the government had banned distribution of relief to poor people. “The state has not done politics in this. Request all sections to understand and support this true objective of the state government to prevent the virus spread,” the statement said.
The government pointed to public health experts warning that Covid-19 cases would go up if the volunteers and organisations resorted to distribution of relief materials. The organisations could hand over the relief materials to collectors of districts, commissioners and zonal officers of corporations, commissioners of municipalities, executive officers of town panchayats and block development officers of panchayat unions. They could also approach the revenue officials concerned, it said.
Arrangements would be made to distribute the materials to all the needy through government-appointed officials. Groceries, vegetables, cooked food and other essential commodities given by the voluntary organisations would be distributed to the areas and individuals of their choice.
“The volunteers could also work with district administrations with permission from the collectors. The contact numbers of the officials concerned have been already released,” the government said, seeking full support of public and voluntary organisations.
At least 2,500 organisations and 58,000 volunteers have already registered themselves with the government to distribute relief and cash support to elderly citizens, disabled people, guest workers and others, abiding by the social distancing norms and public health safety measures.
“The objective of the government is not to prevent (anyone from extending) help. Considering the prevailing situation, the government’s stand is that relief has to be extended properly and safely,” the government said. It is not appropriate to draw comparison between the PDS outlets as the government had been strictly monitoring the social distancing norms at PDS outlets and other shops selling essential commodities.
The government said the volunteers and organisations had done an exemplary service when the state was hit with tsunami, floods, cyclonic storms in the past. During such events the government had neither imposed a ban on distribution of relief materials nor on public gathering. “But the current disaster is due to a deadly virus infection. As there is no clue over who is infected and from whom it will spread, the state has imposed prohibitory order with a goodwill to prevent the disease,” the statement said.
The clarification comes after opposition DMK moved the Madras high court challenging the ban.
“The government only requested (all) to follow the necessary guidelines according to the circumstances. It has not banned anyone. The government only advised distribution of relief materials from individuals and non-government organisations in coordination with the district administrations so that they will reach the needy safely,” statement said.
The state government said that opposition leader M K Stalin, MDMK chief Vaiko and TNCC president K S Alagiri had been indulging in false propaganda alleging that the government had banned distribution of relief to poor people. “The state has not done politics in this. Request all sections to understand and support this true objective of the state government to prevent the virus spread,” the statement said.
The government pointed to public health experts warning that Covid-19 cases would go up if the volunteers and organisations resorted to distribution of relief materials. The organisations could hand over the relief materials to collectors of districts, commissioners and zonal officers of corporations, commissioners of municipalities, executive officers of town panchayats and block development officers of panchayat unions. They could also approach the revenue officials concerned, it said.
Arrangements would be made to distribute the materials to all the needy through government-appointed officials. Groceries, vegetables, cooked food and other essential commodities given by the voluntary organisations would be distributed to the areas and individuals of their choice.
“The volunteers could also work with district administrations with permission from the collectors. The contact numbers of the officials concerned have been already released,” the government said, seeking full support of public and voluntary organisations.
At least 2,500 organisations and 58,000 volunteers have already registered themselves with the government to distribute relief and cash support to elderly citizens, disabled people, guest workers and others, abiding by the social distancing norms and public health safety measures.
“The objective of the government is not to prevent (anyone from extending) help. Considering the prevailing situation, the government’s stand is that relief has to be extended properly and safely,” the government said. It is not appropriate to draw comparison between the PDS outlets as the government had been strictly monitoring the social distancing norms at PDS outlets and other shops selling essential commodities.
The government said the volunteers and organisations had done an exemplary service when the state was hit with tsunami, floods, cyclonic storms in the past. During such events the government had neither imposed a ban on distribution of relief materials nor on public gathering. “But the current disaster is due to a deadly virus infection. As there is no clue over who is infected and from whom it will spread, the state has imposed prohibitory order with a goodwill to prevent the disease,” the statement said.
Coronavirus outbreak
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Get the app