By Tajdar H. Zaidi
Lucknow: With the arrival of the winter season, the Uttar Pradesh government released the first instalment of funds to the districts to provide blankets and arrange bonfires for residents. The government has allocated a fund of Rs 20 crores. This initiative aims to extend relief to the destitute, helpless, and vulnerable sections of society.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has underlined the need for purchasing high-quality blankets. He also directed the officials to ensure the availability of temporary shelter, food, clothing, and medical aid for those in need, including refugees and the homeless in all parts of the state.
The necessary instructions have been given to all the district magistrates and the divisional commissioners to ensure the availability of temporary shelter, food, clothing, and medical facilities for destitute individuals, refugees, and affected people in the areas concerned.
According to a press release, the office of the relief commissioner allocated funds to all DMs, that have already issued tenders for the procurement of blankets and arrangements for bonfires.
Relief Commissioner Bhanu Chandra Goswami said that CM Yogi directed officials to take proper care of the state’s weaker sections. CM Yogi is committed to their welfare through various initiatives, the release said.
According to the release, the state government has allocated Rs 17.55 crore to 351 tehsils for the blankets and Rs 1.75 crore for bonfires, totalling Rs 19.3 crore in the first instalment. The government wants proper protection of vulnerable and destitute individuals from the cold.
Districts like Ghazipur, Bulandshahr, Gorakhpur, Sitapur, and Lakhimpur Kheri have received the highest allocation of Rs 38.5 lakh. All Divisional Commissioners and District Magistrates have been directed to take necessary measures to combat the cold wave and ensure timely relief.
CM Yogi’s clear direction for the district magistrates, chief development officers, additional district magistrates, sub-divisional Officers, and Tehsildars is that they should actively survey their regions and identify destitute, helpless, and vulnerable individuals at risk from the cold wave.
