Udupi: State Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader Fareed has directed all government departments to work in close coordination to effectively tackle natural calamities during the monsoon season and ensure an immediate response to flood-related emergencies. Chairing a review meeting at the Dr V S Acharya Hall in the Zilla Panchayat office at Rajathadri in Manipal, the minister reviewed rain-related damage and the district’s drinking water situation.
Immediate relief and compensation stressed
Khader instructed village accountants and Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) to visit affected families immediately in the event of floods, lightning strikes or other monsoon-related disasters. He said officials should provide emotional support, instil confidence among victims and ensure that government compensation is disbursed promptly as per the prescribed norms.
“People should never feel that no government official came to their aid,” the minister said.
He directed officials to provide ₹5,000 as immediate relief to those affected by natural calamities. In the event of a death, the victim’s family should receive ₹5 lakh in compensation. Families whose houses are completely damaged should be provided ₹1.20 lakh as compensation, along with an additional ₹3.75 lakh under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation scheme for reconstruction.
Welfare schemes to reach eligible beneficiaries
The minister said the government has introduced several welfare schemes for the benefit of the public and instructed officials to ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive assistance without unnecessary delays.
He urged grassroots-level officials to identify local issues in villages and bring them to the attention of higher authorities and elected representatives for timely resolution.
Khader also acknowledged that officials may face practical challenges while implementing laws but advised them to enforce the rules with wisdom and a humanitarian approach to ensure people receive the intended benefits.
School safety and livestock welfare
With the monsoon now underway, Khader directed officials not to conduct classes in school buildings where classrooms are leaking or require repairs. He also reviewed the distribution of textbooks and uniforms and instructed the education department to complete the distribution of pending supplies without delay.
The Animal Husbandry Department was instructed to maintain adequate stocks of drinking water and fodder for livestock during the rainy season. He also directed officials to ensure prompt release of compensation in cases involving the death of people or livestock due to heavy rains.
Measures to prevent diseases
Highlighting the increased risk of communicable diseases during the monsoon, Khader instructed the Health Department to remain fully prepared and organise public awareness campaigns on disease prevention and health education.
He directed officials to cancel the licences of commercial establishments found creating mosquito breeding grounds and to intensify fogging and other preventive measures in areas reporting cases of dengue, malaria and chikungunya.
The minister also instructed local bodies to strengthen animal birth control (ABC) sterilisation programmes to manage the stray dog population and minimise inconvenience to the public.
Support for farmers and coordinated emergency response
Khader directed the Agriculture Department to ensure sufficient availability of seeds and fertilisers during the monsoon sowing season. He also asked officials to educate farmers on managing pest attacks in horticultural crops and encourage them to enrol in crop insurance schemes.
To ensure quick responses during emergencies, he instructed the Forest Department, Mescom, Rural Development Department and urban local bodies to establish coordinated response committees for the next three months. Police, Fire and Emergency Services, and Home Guards personnel were asked to remain prepared as dedicated rescue teams throughout the monsoon.
Road repairs and law and order reviewed
The minister directed Public Works Department engineers to repair potholes caused by rain without delay, warning that negligence could lead to accidents, damage the government’s reputation and invite public criticism.
He also instructed officials to maintain roadside drains to ensure the smooth flow of rainwater and prevent waterlogging.
Reviewing the law and order situation, Khader sought details from Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar regarding measures taken to curb thefts, house burglaries, narcotics-related offences and other crimes. He directed the police to maintain law and order while intensifying efforts to reduce crime across the district.
The review meeting was attended by MLAs Yashpal Suvarna, Gururaj Shetty Gantihole, Kiran Kumar Kodgi and Gurme Suresh Shetty, Coastal Development Authority Chairman M A Gaffoor, Brahmashree Narayana Guru Development Corporation Chairman Manjunath Poojary, Deputy Commissioner Swaroopa T K, Zilla Panchayat CEO Prateek Boyal, Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar, Conservator of Forests Ruthen, and other senior officials.