Panchayats to meet funeral expenses of destitute people

LUCKNOW Village panchayats will take care of funeral expenses of destitute people in the rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, according to a state government order.

The UP government has authorised village panchayats to use 3% of the total funds available to them under the State Finance Commission (SFC) to address the emergency needs of the poor related to food, medicine as well as funeral expenses.

This provision has been made, probably fearing rural distress in view of the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus and the lockdown. Principal secretary, panchayati raj, Manoj Kumar Singh has issued a detailed GO (government order) in this regard on June 2.

The government order is marked all divisional commissioners and district magistrates, among others.

It authorises panchayats to provide immediate one-time assistance of Rs 1,000 to a poor rural family that has been pushed to the verge of starvation by economic stress. The panchayats will ensure that such a family also gets a ration card if it does not have one already. The panchayats will also provide prompt financial assistance of Rs 2,000 to a poor family that is not able to get medical treatment for any of its family members for want of money or due to lack of the Ayushman health (health insurance) card, which the panchayats will arrange for the family later on.

In a similar manner, village panchayats can use SFC funds at their disposal to help a family in destitution with Rs 5,000 assistance to conduct the funeral of any of its members, who dies in extreme poverty. If the deceased does not have any family member to perform his last rites, then it will be the duty of the panchayat to arrange the funeral using the same amount, according to the order.

The government order also says, “They will be provided funds of Rs 4,340 crore from the state finance commission during 2020-21 and 3% of which is 130.20 crore, the amount that village panchayats can use to provide emergency help to the destitute.”

The government order also says if there arises a situation wherein there are more destitute people who need immediate financial help and the village panchayat has exhausted its 3% limit, the village pradhan will prepare a list of the needy.

“Assistance to such people will then be provided from the chief minister’s relief fund,” the government order explains.

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