Cyclone Fani: Slum dwellers without ration card to get relief materials

Bhubaneswar: Amid public outcry over alleged lack of distribution of relief materials to cyclone Fani victims, the State government today declared that people living in slums under the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will receive relief materials irrespective of whether they have ration cards or not.

The Special Relief Commissioner today ordered Khurda collector to make provisions of relief materials for the people living in slums in the capital city.

"In consideration of the representation made on the behalf of the residents of slums in Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation area and keeping in view the distressed condition of those people on account of extremely severe cyclonic storm 'FANI', the government has been pleased to extend the gratuitous relief announced by CM, Odisha i.e. 50 kg of rice, plus cash Rs 2000 and polythene or Rs 500 cash thereof also to the families living in various slums in Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, who do not possess card under NFSA/SFSS," read a press release by the office of SRC Bishnupada Sethi.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader KV Singh Deo today met the SRC demanding that the provision of relief materials should be extended to everyone instead of only NFSA/SFSS beneficiaries.

"Relief materials and cooked/dry food is not available to many cyclone Fani victims in Satyabadi area of Puri district as people having ration cards are only getting assistance," Singh Deo said after meeting the SRC.