Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has asked officials to make arrangements for bonfires and blankets to protect the poor and homeless from the biting cold that has set in across Uttar Pradesh.
“The local administration should arrange for shelter homes. laxity on the part of officials will not be tolerated and would be punished,” Yadav said in a statement issued here on Monday.
Chief Minister has ordered that bonfires should be arranged in public places like bus stations, railway stations and main crossings in the bazaar so that poor can make use of this facility.
Government spokesman said that following Chief Minister’s directives government has released Rs 17 crore for blankets. Besides it Rs 1.70 crore has been arranged for bonfire. “Till December 4 around Rs 18.70 crore has been released for blanket and bonfire,” the government spokesman said.
He said that every tehsil gets Rs 5 lakh for purchase of blankets and Rs 50,000 for bonfire. “Enough money has been sent to the district. DMs should ensure that money reaches tehsil and is used as per requirement. Thus, laxity on the part of officials will not be tolerated,” he said.
The spokesman said that Chief Minister wants that DM should ask medical officers to visit shelter homes in rural and urban areas and check the health of the inmate. “No person should die of cold,” the official said.