Government of Punjab Department of Revenue (E.R. Branch)

To

1. All the Commissioners of Divisions in the State.

Memo No. 13/22/90-ER-II/5824

Chandigarh, dated the 12^th Sept. 1990.

Sub: Instructions regarding relief for persons affected by floods during the 1990 monsoon season.

Recently some areas in Kapurthala district were flooded by the overflow of river Beas with the result that 300 families had to be evacuated to the Kapurthala-Goindwal road/guide bunds. Damage to crops as well as houses have also occurred as reported by the Deputy Commissioner. Reports of damage caused by incessant heavy rains/floods have come from other districts too and monsoon season is still on. Floods/heavy rains may cause damage anywhere in the flood prone areas of the State necessitating immediate disbursement of relief. While the detailed assessment of damage in various sectors may take some time but it may be necessary to disburse immediate relief to the affected/ evacuated families on certain items. In this connection, the State Government have decided to issue guidelines for disbursement of relief according to following revised norms and procedure of assessment:

I. LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE

In case of death of bread winner or the members of the family by natural calamities, verification in this regard should be made immediately and ordinarily not later than a week from the date of incidence. Deputy Commissioners through Revenue agency should carry out verification with regard to loss of human lives with the help of Voters List of the village in the presence of village elders such as Lambardars, Sarpanch and Members Panchayat. An ex gratia grant to the next kin of a deceased person may be given at the rate of Rs. 20000/- per adult, Rs. 5000 per minor and Rs. 5000 to the victim for the loss of limbs/eyes. Reports regarding human lives lost should be sent in proforma at Appendix ‘O’.

II. SUBSISTENCE GRANT

Although wide spread damage has not been reported, yet there may be which marooned persons have to be evacuated to safer places. It may be necessary to give subsistence grant to persons who are to stay in camps/temporary shelters as a result of evacuation. Maximum subsistence grant which can be given for the duration of their stay in camps/temporary shelters is indicated as under :-

1. Rs. 4 per head per day in cash or in kind as may be considered suitable.
2. 15 mt. Of cloth per family of 5 members of more.
3. Two blankets per family.

Regarding (b) and (c), Deputy Commissioner concerned with the approval of the Commissioner may decide as to in which affected area cloth and blankets not exceeding the norm should be given. The above assistance will be limited to persons who are staying in camps/temporary shelters. Deputy Commissioner may grant appropriate assistance subject to maximum indicated above depending on the circumstances in each situation.

As regards the supply of cloth, the Deputy Commissioner should arrange the required supply of cloth at a price not exceeding Rs. 10 per meter through Punjab State Handloom and Textile Corporation/any other approved Organization. As regards blankets, the Deputy Commissioner should arrange the required supplies through the Punjab State Handloom and Textile Corporation/any other approved Organization at a ceiling price not exceeding Rs. 80 per blanket. The actual rate paid to the supplier should be as per the rate contract approved by the Controller of Stores for the current financial year or by the Financial Commissioner, Revenue.

III. TEMPORARY SHELTER

At the first instance, the Deputy Commissioner, should accommodate the families which are evacuated in some schools, Dharamshalas, Gurdwaras etc. which are safer and can be used for this purpose. In the event of such buildings not being available, than one used tarpaulin black cover per family of the appropriate size may be provided for the temporary shelter on non returnable basis if it is not possible to provide tents.

IV. FODDER RELIEF

To meet the immediate needs of fodder for the evacuated families, fodder grant of Rs. 3 per large animal per day and Rs. 1.50 per small animal per day may be allowed subject to a maximum of 8 heads of cattle per family and the Deputy Commissioner concerned considers it necessary to do so. The minimum number of days for which assistance may be given should be decided by the Deputy Commissioner. The fodder grant may be paid in cash rather than in kind.

V. LOSS OF CATTLE HEADS

The assessment of cattle heads lost should be carried out by the Gazetted Officer with the help of staff of Animal Husbandry Department. While carrying out the assessments, the Sarpanch and Lambardars, along with other village respectables, should be associated. If any census of animals lost family wise should be announced in the village assembly and the list should be signed by the Sarpanch, Patwari and Lambardar of the Patti. It has been further decided that the Deputy Commissioners will submit their report with regard to cattle heads lost in proforma at Appendix ‘O’ and sanction of relief under this item will be communicated after consideration of their reports. For calculation of funds, following norms of relief may be adopted :

(a) Rs. 1000 per buffalo/bullock/crossbred cow;

1. Rs. 400 per desi cow.
2. Rs. 200 per goat/sheep/other animal.

VI. CROP DAMAGE RELIEF

There are reports of damage to the crops in floods/heavy rains affected areas. Therefore, the assessment of the damage to the crops for the purpose of disbursement of gratuitous relief on account of loss to standing crops has to be carried out. Assessment is ordinarily to be based on normal girdawari because it is only at the time of normal girdawari that exact loss of a particular crop by natural calamity can be ascertained. As normal girdawari for Kharif crop is done in October, it may be preponed in so far as flood affected areas affected by recent floods/rains are concerned. However, for the proper assessment of the damage to crops, following instructions may be followed:

1. Relief will be admissible for a maximum of 5 acres of damaged crop per khatauni. If the khatauni has more than one co-sharer, the total relief admissible will be divided among the co-sharers in proportion to their shares.

1. Within the ceiling of 5 acres, if for example, 3 acres have sustained damage between 76% to 100% and 2 acres have sustained damage between 51% to 75% the relief payable will be worked out in accordance with the different scales allowed for different categories.
2. In case of land which is being cultivated by a tenant on chakota rent and chakota has already been paid for the Kharif, 1990 crop to the landlord, the relief admissible will be paid entirely to the tenant.

In the case of a tenant who is obliged to pay batai, the relief admissible will be shared between the landlord and tenant in the ratio of 1/3:2/3.

1. Sometimes, though the khasra girdawari shows that the land is under self cultivation of the owners in actual practice, a tenant is cultivating the land. In such cases, the officer should at the time of preparing the assessment list, hold a local enquiry from cultivators of neighbouring fields and village elders in order to ascertain as to who is in actual cultivation of the land. If it is found that the land is being cultivated by a tenant, the relief admissible should be paid to the tenant, etc. as per instructions contained in the preceding sub paragraph 3.
2. Where an unauthorised cultivator is under cultivating possession of government land, relief should be allowed to him to the extent of 2/3^rd of the relief admissible leaving 1/3^rd share undisbursed as it pertains to government’s share as landlord. While disbursing the cultivator’s share, any arrears of charges for unauthorised cultivation in the preceding years should be deducted.
3. The percentage of damage has to be worked out on field to field basis and no averaging is to be done far all the fields in the khatauni taken together. For example, if the khatauni has 10 acres of land, out of which 5 acres have sustained damage between 76% to 100% while the remaining 5 acres are left unaffected, relief will be provided upto the prescribed ceiling of 5 acres for all the acres which have suffered 76% to 100% damage at the scale applicable to this category of damage.

1. In order to have proper assessment of damage to crops by floods/rains, and to eliminate the chances of complaints, assessment of damage by Patwaris be verified cent per cent by the Kanungo/Circle Revenue Officers, 50% by the Sub Divisional Officers(C ) and random check be undertaken by the Deputy Commissioner. Further :

1. The patwari at the time of making assessment of damage in a particular village should send advance intimation in writing to the village Panchayat through its Sarpanch.
2. To avoid party faction in the village and to minimise the chances of complaints, assessment be made in the presence of the members of the village panchayat.
3. In case the members of the Panchayat do not turn up despite intimation, the patwari should not withhold the assessment of damage on that account but should proceed according to the scheduled programme.
4. The Tehsildar/Sub Divisional Officer(C ) should while undertaking the checking of the assessment made, by the patwari, inform the MP/Ex. MLA in whose constituency the village falls, so that he could also join the inspection, if he so desires.

The Deputy Commissioners will furnish information about the damage to the standing crops by rains/floods at the earliest. Norms of relief will be intimated separately. These reports should be sent to the Commissioners with a copy to the State/Government. Relief on account of crop damages will be sanctioned only after the consideration of reports submitted by Deputy Commissioners.

The Deputy Commissioners will be personally responsible to ensure that proper assessment of damage to crops etc. etc. by rains/floods is conducted and intimated tehsilwise.

VII. RELEASE FOR HOUSE DAMAGE

Since reports of damages to houses/huts have also been reported by recent rains/floods, assessment of damages is required to be made for the purpose of disbursement of relief. In this connection, it is stated that the relief for house damage is admissible only for a residential/house and can be paid for only ONE house per family even though a large number of houses belonging to that family may have been damaged. Shed used for tethering cattle or storage of fodder straw etc. are not eligible for getting house damage relief. For calculation purposes following scale of relief may be adopted:

(i) Pucca House Fully damaged Rs. 2000

Partially damaged Rs. 1000

(ii) Katcha House Fully damaged Rs. 1000

Partially damaged Rs. 500

(iii) Hut Fully damaged Rs. 250

Partially damaged Rs. 125

It is certified that in order to qualify for being categorised as partially damaged, there should be significant and visible damage such as collapse of a wall, portion of roof, settlement of foundations resulting in serious cracks etc. to the extent of 50% overall damage. A fully damaged house would be one which would require to be fully re-constructed.

In case of damage to residential house, verification of damage should be made through survey ordinarily not later than a week from the date of incidence and reports about the same should be sent in proforma at Appendix ‘N’.

The assessment of damage and preparation of lists of the persons eligible for receiving the relief should be undertaken through gazetted officers in the first instance itself, rather than leaving initial preparation to be done by village level revenue officials. At the time of carrying out the assessment, village elders such as Lambardars, Sarpanch, Member of Panchayats should be coopted. Any other community representatives who wish to assist in the assessment may be permitted to do so. Immediately after the assessment has been completed an open village assembly should be convened and the assessment list read out in the assembly. Any objections which are raised regarding the correctness of the list should be verified at the spot by the assessing officer and the list finalised there and then. A certificate should be recorded on the assessment list by the gazetted officer concerned bearing also the signatures of the village elders who have been associated during the assessment. On the receipt of assessments and proposals for relief by this office, sanction for relief for damages to the houses will be issued.

VIII. MODE OF PAYMENT

As already conveyed- vide Memo No. 5/8/87/ERTL-V/4985 dated 23^rd May 1987 and Memo No. 5/108/88/ERTL-V/9737 dated 10^th October 1988, the disbursement of relief has to be carried out through Account Payees Cheques to prevent any bungling during the disbursement of relief and to avoid future complaints from the affected people that they did not receive the full amount which was due to them under the Government policy.

In so far as small amounts upto Rs. 250 are concerned, the disbursement may be allowed by the Deputy Commissioners by bearer cheques if a branch of a bank is available with a distance of 2 kilometers from the village. However, if no such branch is available he may allow disbursement of such small amounts not exceeding Rs. 250 in cash.

IX. SUPERVISION AND CHECKING

Deputy Commissioners and Commissioners of Divisions should conduct intensive tours of the area in their jurisdiction to supervise the working of the Disbursement Teams. They should ensure that the instructions issued by the Government are meticulously followed.

X. DISPOSAL OF GRIEVANCES

The Deputy Commissioners should ensure that a proper record of complaints received about the assessment/disbursement is maintained and its regular monitoring is done. Weekly reports about the No. of complaints pending. No. of complaints received and disposed of, may be intimated to the Government. As far as possible, it should be ensured that such complaints are attended to without any delay and are not allowed to remain pending for more than a week.