Shaktisinh Gohil slams government for lack of scarcity relief

Gujarat Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil on Thursday came down heavily on the state government over its failure to initiate relief measures in scarcity-affected areas despite set procedures. He also alleged that government has made it tougher to claim relief.

Gohil said that more than Rs1,909 crore is available in the State Disaster Response Fund after Centre gave relief of Rs864.71 crore, but no money has been spent for relief work.

“No relief work is being carried out by the government in scarcity-hit areas to provide employment to people. Also, unlike in the past, no cash doles are being paid to the scarcity-hit,” said the former leader of opposition.

Gohil said that the government plays politics in the name of cow protection, but has not followed the earlier system of starting cattle camps. “Cattle are dying because of water and fodder shortage,” he alleged.

He said that instead of adopting a humanitarian approach in such times, the government has made it difficult for people to avail of the relief. He referred to a GR issued in March which he alleged makes it difficult for panjrapols and gaushalas to avail of the relief provided for the cattle.

He added that the process for issuing the grass card in scarcity-hit areas has also been made needlessly complicated and lengthy.