Assistance given from CM’s discretionary fund hiked

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 26

The Uttarakhand government has increased assistance being given from the Chief Minister’s discretionary fund in various cases.

According to a new notification issued by the Chief Minister’s office, poor people will now be able to get up to Rs 1 lakh for medical care, which is nearly a 20-fold increase from the earlier assistance of Rs 5,000. This assistance shall be paid according to the nature of the disease and its seriousness.

The amendments have been brought as more people are approaching the Chief Minister for help and assistance. The new guidelines have introduced more flexibility in the fund management, which earlier had limitations. The assistance has been doubled to Rs 10,000 from Rs 5,000 for handicapped, destitute, persons belonging to weaker sections and widows having no financial support.

For registered social and cultural organisations, except those engaged in religious and caste-based programmes, the assistance has been increased to Rs 50,000. However, the assistance available to unregistered organisations earlier has been discontinued.

In case the breadwinner of a poor family is killed, it can avail of an assistance of Rs 50,000, which was earlier Rs 20,000.

However, in exceptional cases, the Chief Minister will have the discretion of doubling any assistance and in other cases sup to Rs 2 lakh can be given.

Chief Minister Harish Rawat had last year rejected a demand by BJP MLAs for a quota for MLAs from the Chief M’s discretionary fund.