Yogi Adityanath declares 5 UP districts drought-hit; directs authorities to aid affected families

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has declared five districts in his state as drought-hit, and has directed the respective district magistrates to distribute food-grains and financial assistance to affected families.

State relief commissioner Sanjay Kumar said that Mahoba, Lalitpur, Jhansi in Bundelkhand and Sonehadra and Mirzapur in Eastern Uttar Pradesh have been declared drought-hit by the state government.

Adityanath has directed district magistrates (DMs) in five drought-hit regions to start distributing food grains under the Antyodaya Yojana immediately and make available financial assistance to worst-affected families.

Under the central government scheme, the state government will provide 15 kg flour, 25 kg potatoes, 5 kg pulses, one kg iodized salt, 3 kg mustard oil, one kg desi ghee and one kg milk powder to all affected families. “This will be sufficient for a family to sustain for 15 days,” said Kumar.

The relief commissioner said that a purchase committee has already been formed under DMs of these five districts to buy quality products for immediate supply to the affected families of the drought-hit areas. “Funds have already been made available to the DMs in his regard,” he said.

The DMs in these five districts have been directed to hold relief camps and distribute the food grains and other items through the local public representatives. The CM’s Office will personally monitor and inspect the relief work in drought-hit districts.

 “The DMs have been directed to keep a record of beneficiaries including their names, address, mobile numbers and Aadhar card numbers and furnished details on daily basis. Any laxity in the relief work will not be tolerated,” warned the Relief Commissioner.