Strict instructions issued on earthquake compensation disbursement process

GANGTOK, 10 Oct: The State Government has issued strict instructions as to how the compensation to people whose houses have been damaged by the 18 September Earthquake is to be distributed. The BDOs have been made responsible for the disbursement process. As per the instructions, the names of listed victims submitted by the BDOs cannot be changed or replaced under any circumstances and in case of objections on genuineness of claim, the release of compensation to such individuals is to be kept pending; these will be released only on completion of thorough enquiry.
All funds transferred to BDOs are required to be kept in a new bank account and all compensation released by cheque and not in cash. Cheques are to be handed only to the victims and even authorization letters are not to be entertained.
As for the victims themselves, they are to be identified by the ward panchayats who are also required to sign on all the pages of the vouchers. After disbursement, proper receipts on revenue stamps are to be obtained from the victims and the details of funds disbursed and received along with receipts are to be submitted to the office of the Relief Commissioner through the DC offices.
The instructions also state that if any genuine person is left out from the list of victims they can be included in the supplementary list after thorough verification.