Amritsar, October 27: The state government has started an exercise to rehabilitate the victims of the train tragedy that struck the city on Dasehra.
To this end, the state government will provide jobs to eligible members of victims’ families, while elderly persons who lost their breadwinners will be given special pension.
Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday said, “A survey has been started to know how injured persons can be helped so that their future is secured. The ones below 18 years will get grant-in-aid, while those above 18 will be employed in the private sector. They can be offered jobs according to their skills, qualification, gender and physical condition, as many are left disabled.”
He, meanwhile, handed over cheques for Rs5 lakh each to families of five victims. “To date, 46 families have been provided with financial assistance. The remaining 12 families will get the cheques soon.”
Sidhu, in whose constituency the accident took place on October 19 claiming 59 lives, said he was committed to take care of victims’ future out of his pocket. One body is still unclaimed.
He admitted limitations in the government procedure, but said no one would be left in the lurch. “Those found ineligible for the rehabilitation scheme will be my liability.”
“I understand that pension offered to elderly persons might not be enough, but I guarantee them life-time help. I came across a girl who lost her parents and another girl who was pregnant but lost her husband. My wife and I have been preparing a list of such persons. We will secure their future. I have already started the process of adopting the needy,” he said.
Sidhu added many people had approached the government to adopt children rendered orphan in the tragedy.
Source Tribune India
