All ration card holders in Chennai to get relief amount; central team to assess flood damages

Chennai: All ration card holders residing in Chennai will receive Rs 6,000 as relief for the damages suffered due to Cyclone Michaung, while only people living in the affected taluks in Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, and Tiruvallur districts will be eligible to obtain the amount, the Tamil Nadu government said on Monday.

Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said tokens for distribution of the relief amount in cash at their respective ration shops will be handed over to the beneficiaries from December 16. The process is expected to be completed in about ten days after which the amount will be disbursed to them, Thennarasu added.

Chief Minister M K Stalin had on Saturday announced Rs 6,000 as one-time assistance to families whose livelihood was affected due to the rains and subsequent floods. As speculation mounted on the beneficiaries and how they will be chosen, Thennarasu said all ration card holders in Chennai will receive the relief amount.

“Ration card is the basis. For Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, and Chengalpattu, only the taluks affected by the rains and floods will be eligible for the relief amount. As far as Chennai is concerned, all taluks will be covered,” the minister said.

“They can appeal with the government,” Thennarasu said, when asked about the status of people who don’t have a ration card in Chennai but were affected by the floods. Officials said a detailed Government Order (GO) is expected to be released soon on the beneficiaries and how the amount will be distributed.

On damages, the Finance Minister said the government has tentatively arrived at a figure of Rs 5,060 crore and has sought the same from the Centre. “We will enhance the amount after the Central team visits the state,” he said.

The Central team led by Kunal Satyarthi, Advisor, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), will assess the damage in four districts on Tuesday and Wednesday. The team will have representatives from the Union Ministries of Agriculture, Finance, Transport, Power, and Rural Development.

To questions on demands from the AIADMK and BJP that the relief amount should be enhanced to Rs 12,000, Thennarasu said state BJP chief K Annamalai should talk to the Union Government and get the GST dues released so that the state has enough funds.

The announcement by Stalin comes after intense criticism from several quarters over “poor handling” of the relief and rehabilitation work. At least a couple of ministers, Chennai Mayor R Priya, and legislators representing constituencies in Chennai were gheraoed by angry residents on non-availability of milk, essential items, and failure to provide food to them and drain water out from their localities immediately.