Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Provide Financial Assistance To The Family Of Victims Who Lost Their Lives ... on 23 April, 2008
> Title: Need to provide financial assistance to the family of victims who lost their lives due to sunstroke/heat wave and to declare these as natural calamity.
SHRI B. MAHTAB (CUTTACK): Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am drawing the attention of this House and the Government to a very devastating situation that has cropped up in the State of Orissa.
For the last about 10 days, Orissa has been reeling under severe heat wave due to which, more than 28 persons have died. Though the State Government has confirmed four deaths by sunstroke, about five death reports are awaited. About the rest, as the post mortems have not been done, that is why they have not been accepted as victims of sunstroke.
The Central Government is yet to accept heat wave or sunstroke as a Natural Calamity. From the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, Rs. 10,000 each had been released to the families of four persons, who have died. But my concern here is that the Central Government should come up with the issue and accept heat wave as a Natural Calamity so that Rs. 50,000 as ex-gratia can be provided to them...
SHRI HANNAN MOLLAH (ULUBERIA): It may be given for the cold waves also.
SHRI B. MAHTAB : At present, we are talking about heat waves.
MR. SPEAKER: Yes. In the summer, let us restrict to sunstroke.
SHRI B. MAHTAB : Sir, it is a curfew like situation, which is now prevailing in most of the urban areas of Orissa.
MR. SPEAKER: That is why I have allowed you to speak.
SHRI B. MAHTAB : Same is the situation in the Capital Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Behrampore, Sambalpur Titlagarh, Talcher and other places.[r6] So, I would urge upon the Government to accept heat wave, sunstroke, as natural calamity because the Finance Commission did not accept it. Still, I hope the Government has a scope to respond to this situation.
MR. SPEAKER: Yes, it is in the context of climate change. That is why, I have allowed it.