STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: A first-of its-kind scheme named 'Chief Minister's Scheme for Public Emergency (CMSPE)' has been launched in the State to expedite sanctioning of funds to meet emergency situations without any delay. The Chief Minister's Secretariat issued a Notification to this effect recently.
It may be mentioned that a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on April 20 last approved this scheme in view of some delay entailed hitherto in sanctioning and release of funds to extend assistance during various situations. It had come to the Chief Minister's notice that no fund existed in the State to meet these types of situations.
The CMSPE will be implemented by the Chief Minister's Secretariat and funds under the scheme will be sanctioned with the approval of the Chief Minister himself. The CMSPE will utilize funds placed at the Chief Minister's Secretariat in the State Budget as the Chief Minister's grant for public emergency.
The entire budgeted amount under the scheme will be drawn through the ceiling route after obtaining concurrence of the Finance Department and it will be kept in a savings bank account of a Public Sector bank which will be operated by the Chief Minister. At the end of each financial year, the interest earned will be returned to the Government exchequer.
According to the Notification, the funds under this scheme will be utilized to provide compensation to victims of conflict, natural calamities and accidents where regular budget is not available. The CMSPE fund will also provide infrastructural support to social, cultural and academic institutions which are not supported under regular schemes of the State Government. Further, the fund will be utilized to provide monetary award for exceptional service rendered by an individual or a public servant and to provide financial support to icons associated with sports, culture and academia, including individuals who bring laurels to the State, various organizations for different workshops, seminars, festivals etc.
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