Compensation for Bird Flu victims delayed

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 6:- The compensation for Bird Flu victims in Chanchal sub division in Malda will be distributed after formation of new panchayat body, administrative officials said today. The state government had allotted nearly Rs 18 lakh to distribute Rs 500 for each family whose poultry were culled to control fresh Bird Flu out break in January and February. Though funds were allotted by the government a few months back but the distribution of compensation was kept on hold due to by polls in Kharba in Chanchal sub division and notification of rural polls. “The fund is ready for distribution but the government has directed that after formation of new panchayat body compensation will be distributed”, said Mr Debasish Sarkar, the SDO in Chanchal. “The new body would distribute compensation based on the list prepared by the old body”, he said. According to him, the residents of affected villages have started rearing of chickens again at their own venture after three months over.But due to rural polls, the district Animal Resources Development (ARD) could not help them by supplying chicks and kids of goats as an alternative source of earning due to rural polls as directed by the minister ARD. According to the administrative officials, the government has directed to form new body of gram panchayat between 26 June and 30 June and Panchayat Samiti would be formed between 29 June and 2 July.Officials sources said: “After formation of new board in zilla parishad the new body of GP and PS will be able to start functioning”. The government has directed to keep vigilance on the old defunct body of G P and PS so that they can not operate in financial transaction before formation of new body, said Mr Sarkar.