Punjab Newsline, Shimla-
Providing significant relief to disaster-affected families, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today distributed Rs. 81.28 crore to 4,914 beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) during a function held at Paddal Ground, Mandi.
A total of 1,513 beneficiaries whose houses were completely damaged received the first installment of Rs. 4 lakh each out of Rs. 7 lakh. Among them, 781 beneficiaries are from Mandi district, 631 from Kullu and 101 from Bilaspur. Additionally, 3,401 beneficiaries whose houses were partially damaged received Rs. 1 lakh each, including 1,547 from Mandi, 1,541 from Kullu and 313 from Bilaspur District.
So far, Rs. 14.46 crore in relief assistance has already been distributed to 4,375 affected families in Mandi district. The state government is currently implementing 27 disaster mitigation projects in Mandi with a total outlay of Rs. 72 crore. Furthermore, the State Executive Committee has approved five more projects estimated at Rs. 18.84 crore, while proposals for seven additional mitigation projects are being prepared.
CM launches “Madhu Mandav” initiative
The Chief Minister also launched the Madhu Mandav initiative in Mandi district, which will primarily operate in disaster-affected areas of the district to encourage families to take up beekeeping as a source of livelihood. Along with financial assistance, beneficiaries will be provided with training and support to set up beekeeping units. The honey produced under this program will be marketed under the brand name Him-Era Mandav.
Support for Orphaned Child
During the event, the Chief Minister presented a cheque of Rs. 7.95 lakh to Nikita, a young girl who lost her parents in the floods at Panglyur in the Seraj Assembly constituency. He also announced an additional financial assistance of Rs. 21 lakh for her. He said that daughters like Nikita are not alone anymore and the state government stands with them.
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani, MLAs Chander Shekhar and Anil Sharma, former Ministers Kaul Singh Thakur, Rangila Ram Rao and Prakash Chaudhary, former CPS Sohan Lal Thakur, Chairman APMC Mandi Sanjeev Guleria, Vice Chairman H.P. Civil Supplies Corporation Vishal Chambial and senior Congress leaders including Jeevan Thakur, Pawan Thakur, Vijay Pal Singh, Lal Singh Kaushal, Jagdish Reddy, Chet Ram Thakur, Naresh Chauhan, Vivek Kumar, Mahesh Raj, Champa Thakur and Vijay Kanav, along with Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan and Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma were present on the occasion.