THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Financial assistance to the tune of ` 31.25 lakh was disbursed to 275 people in the district on Thursday. The assistance was given away in a complaint redressal forum organised by the district administration.
An amount of `21.21 lakh was disbursed to 160 persons from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, `6.64 lakh to 92 persons who were victims of natural calamities and `3.40 lakh to 22 persons as part of the National Family Welfare Programme. Apart from providing financial assistance, those eligible were given BPL cards too.
The redressal forum was held based on a directive of the Chief Minister to all District Collectors.
Inaugurating the function here, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said the programme was part of clearing all files that had been pending for years. He said most of the complaints were unresolved only because of minor issues. The redressal forums would be helpful for people who have been denied justice for long, said Surendran.
Deputy Speaker V Sasi said complaints that could not be settled in the forum should be addressed to the Chief Minister and the government.
When 456 complaints were registered with respect to revenue, 24 complaints each were received in the corporation and civil supplies sectors. Ten complaints were registered regarding panchayats and eight in connection with cooperation. Seven complaints came up regarding lead bank and four in the registration sector.
In the first phase of the redressal forum, complaints from 31 villages were taken up. As many as 533 complaints had come up, most of which were regarding land and housing. As it was not possible to find a solution to complaints regarding land and sanctioning of houses, the Collector directed the officers concerned to take steps to immediately to address them.