Congress slams 'insensitive' GR

Mumbai: The Congress on Friday slammed two controversial government resolutions (GRs), issued on August 7 and 8 for its alleged discriminatory criteria for seeking flood relief.

The August 7 GR had stated that the state government would provide 10 kgs of rice and wheat to those families whose homes were submerged for more than two days. On the other hand, the GR issued next day stated that financial assistance would be provided to those whose lands were inundated for over two days, or if their houses were washed away. The August 8 GR also earmarked Rs 7,500 for clothes and an equal amount for household items in urban areas. In rural areas, the GR stated, the government would provide Rs 5,000 for each family for clothes and an equal amount for household items.

Terming the August 7 GR ‘insensitive’, state Congress president Balasaheb Thorat tweeted that providing food free of cost to only those whose homes remained submerged for two days is a cruel joke.  If the current dispensation has some sensitivity, it should scrap the GRs immediately.

However, state minister and senior BJP leader Ashish Shelar clarified that the August 7 GR was issued by the food and drug administration department, and added that relief and rehabilitation department had been providing aid to all flood-affected people.

“Our government is sensitive to the hardships of the flood-affected people. When the need of the hour is to ensure evacuation and rescue of flood-affected people, opposition has been indulging in politics,” Mr. Shelar said.

Rebutting the Congress, the minister urged the party to check out the GR issued on January 30, 2014, which laid down the criteria that areas submerged for over seven days were eligible for compensation.