Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje has demanded more central funds as relief package for hailstorm from the union government in view of heavy damages caused by untimely rains and hailstorm in the state.

In this regard, the CM met the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh at his official residence in New Delhi on Wednesday. She was accompanied by the State Minister for Home and Disaster Relief Shri Gulab Chand Kataria and the Relief Secretary Shri Rohit Kumar.

Smt. Raje told the Union Home Minister that the state government had demanded special relief package of 11,886 crore rupees from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and further sent revised proposals in April month. She said that after receiving additional funds from the centre the affected farmers could be compensated as per expectations of the relief package.

The CM also requested for release of the centre’s contribution towards yearly allocation of 1103 crore rupees for the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF). She said that the state government had allocated 983.68 crore rupees for the year 2015-16 for the relief works undergoing in different districts. But, a remaining amount of 413.75 crore rupees from the centre’s share was yet to be released, she said.

Smt. Raje suggested that by amending the SDRF provisions, relief works should be continued beyond 90 days in a state like Rajasthan, which frequently faced drought-like situations. She also demanded to remove the limit of not spending more that 25 percent relief funds.

The Chief Minister further demanded amendment in regulations of agricultural grants. She said that the present limit of two hectares for grant of agricultural input should be extended to five hectares. Also, the subsidy be given in proportion to actual damage of crops and for the crops such as orange, a separate category be devised under the relief proposals, she said.

Smt. Raje also requested for inclusion of concession in power bills of the calamity-affected farmers into SDRF norms, so that approvals could be give for adjustment of amounts of bill concession from the SDRF funds. Likewise, she suggested to include rebate in irrigation charges in the calamity-affected regions under the SDRF provisions.
Smt. Raje asked the Union Home Minister to establish a new Rapid Action Force battalion at Jaipur. The state government had already accented to allot land for this, she said.

The CM further asked to approve the proposal of setting-up ‘Maharana Pratap Indian Reserve Battalion’ in the tribal-majority Pratapgarh region. For this, the state government had given financial approval. Smt. Raje said that early decision be taken on the proposal of opening a counter-terrorism school in Sardar Patel Police University in the state.

New Delhi/Jaipur, May 13 2015