In a major relief to the distressed families of the farmers committing suicide in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today approved a policy for creating a ‘Revolving Fund’ for relief to be given as one time monetary assistance of Rs 3 lakh to the next of the kin of such farmers.Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the move was aimed at mitigating the sense of economic insecurity amongst the family besides enabling them to tide over the financial distress due to the death of the sole bread winner of the family. This ‘Revolving Fund for Relief’ to the suicide affected families would be created with the state Revenue Department to ensure timely relief to the affected families.As per this policy 25% of the relief amount would be paid to the mother and balance to the wife of the deceased.
However, in case mother was not alive then full relief would be paid to the wife. The spokesperson further said that if the wife of the deceased remarries outside the family or if she was not alive then the amount would be paid to the children and in case the deceased was unmarried or had no children then it would be paid to the parents in case they were dependent on the deceased. Likewise, a committee would be constituted to receive and verify documents to disburse the assistance with the Deputy Commissioner of the district as Chairman and Chief Medical Officer, Senior Superintendent of Police and Sarpanch of victim’s village as Members and Chief Agricultural Officer (CAO) as the Member Convener.
The Committee would decide the matter within a period of one month from the date of receipt of complete application. The application for availing the financial assistance must be submitted within a period of three months from the date of suicide to the CAO or the concerned Sub Divisional Magistrate. “All such applications whenever received must be forwarded to the CAO, who will process these for the consideration of the above committee” added the spokesperson.