In another sop for the poorer section of the society ahead of the general elections, the State Government launched Harishchandra Yojana here on the occasion of the Independence Day on Thursday.
A total of nine families benefited on the first day of the scheme at the Swargadwar. The Government has declared the Harischandra Yojana for providing financial assistance to the poor and destitute people for conducting the last rites of their family members and cremation of unclaimed dead bodies.
The funds would be placed with Gram Panchayats, NACs, Municipalities and Municipal Corporation to the tune of Rs 20,000, Rs 60,000, Rs 1lakh and 3 lakh, respectively, every year. The Sarpanches, Chairpersons or Mayors would decide the deserving people for grant of the assistance. While the Sarapanches can sanction assistance of Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 in rural areas, the Chairperson or the Mayor can grant between Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 in urban areas.
Besides, activities would be carried out at all levels to sensitise the people about the scheme.