Rajasthan to start relief work in drought-hit areas soon

The council of ministers, which held a special marathon meeting to discussthe drought on Saturday that continued till the early hours yesterday, favoured expeditious relief efforts to combat scarcity. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot held a follow-up meeting with Relief Minister Gulab Singh Shaktawat, Finance Minister Pradyumn Singh, Chief Secretary Indrajit Khanna and other officials to draw up the relief strategy.

The state government, according to official sources, would start a hand-pump restoration drive from December 7, brief all district collectors on the relief plan here on December 10, ban the movement of fodder to other states and defer the recovery of loans from the people affected by drought. The money available under the MLAs’ fund and the tribal area sub-plan would be utilised for improving drinking water facilities. The sum of Rs 30 crore available in the tribal area sub-plan would be spent during the next four months.

The sources added that a commission for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes would also be established. The commission would have a representative of the safai karamchari community either as the chairman or as the vice-chairman. It would also look into issues concerning Scheduled Castes and Tribes in the services.