Putting the verification process on fast track, on the directions of Capt. Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister Punjab, the State Level Committee gives major relief to the families of farmers and farm labourers affected by suicides. The Committee cleared 92 cases lying pending since 2013-14.

Giving details Mrs.Vinni Mahajan, FCR -cum- chairperson State Level Committee informed that as per the instructions of CMO the committee has initiated the process of holding monthly meetings to review the status of pendency in different districts as well as sanction immediate relief to the verified cases.

Accordingly, sanctions amounting to Rs. 260 Lac were issued for 92 cases including 19 cases from Mansa, 3 cases each from Fazilka and Fatehgarh Sahib, 6 cases from Barnala, 49 cases from Sangrur, 9 cases from Ludhiana and 1 each from Hoshiarpur, Bathinda and Rupnagar.

It is pertinent to mention that Chief Minister Punjab after a meeting with Farmers' Associations had issued instructions wide letter dated 24-10-17 that "the payment of financial assistance to the affected families should be made regularly not later than 25th of the month."

She informed that the State Level Committee For Rendering Financial Assistance to the Kin of Farmer & Farm Labourers Affected By Suicides comprising of Financial Commissioner Revenue, Financial Commissioner Development, Principal Secretary Finance, Principal Secretary Power and Disaster Management has decided, to direct all the Deputy Commissioners to mention specifically the reasons for pendency, if any, in every case scrutinized by the District Level Committee constituted for the same so that State Level Committee may iron out the hitches in the process.

The FCR further informed that the complete verification of a case involves multiple checks by various departments so, it takes time but efforts are afoot to clear the pendency and provide relief at the earliest.