The relief fund had voluntary contributions from every segment of society...
Digital Desk: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu donated all of his savings, worth Rs. 51 lakh, to the state's disaster relief fund on Friday to assist those afflicted by natural disasters.
The chief minister and his wife Kamlesh Thakur presented Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena with a check of Rs 51 lakh at their official residence, based on a statement issued here.
“I could well understand the pain of the people and their plight during the recent monsoon fury in which more than 260 precious lives were lost and many rendered homeless, besides suffering huge losses,” CM said.
The relief fund had voluntary contributions from every segment of society. Children broke their piggy banks to help those in distress, the elderly gave up their pensions, and state government officials generously donated their salaries to the Aapda Raahat Kosh (disaster relief fund).
A total of Rs 61 crore was earlier donated to the state by the governments of Bihar, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh to meet the relief and rehabilitation requirements. In addition to temple trusts, NGOs and individuals have come forward with support.
The infrastructure of the roads, water supply systems, buildings, and other private and public property have all suffered severe damage as a result of the heavy rains in July and August.
Since the onset of the monsoon on June 24 till September 14, 272 people died in rain-related incidents, causing losses to the state of Rs 8,680 crore, based on the state emergency operation center, and more estimates of damage are still pouring in.
The chief minister had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the calamity in Himachal as a national disaster, claiming that the state has sustained damages of Rs 12,000 crores.
During her two-day visit to the rain-affected areas of Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla on July 12 and 13, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the issue would be raised during the special session of Parliament.
During the COVID-19 epidemic, Sukhu also donated his entire income for one year and contributed Rs. 11 lakh to the state relief fund, according to the statement.
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