Banking, financial relief measures announced for Kerala
New Delhi, Aug 30 : The government on Wednesday took several measures on the banking and financial front, including concessional loan for rebuilding houses, to provide relief to the people in flood-ravaged Kerala.
Financial Services Secretary Rajeev Kumar, in a series of tweets on relief measures for Keralites, said the National Housing Bank (NHB) will provide Rs 200 crore housing loan at a concessional interest rate, and announced other support measures in banking.
"For construction and repair of houses affected by #Keralafloods, Rs 200 crore allocated from the Refinance Scheme of @NhbIndia under #AffordableHousingFund to facilitate #HousingLoan at concessional interest rate," Kumar tweeted.
The relief measures include moratorium up to one year and instalment rescheduling for home loans as per the need. Top-up loans can be availed for house repair. There will be no penal interest and no compounding of interest during the moratorium period.
"Flood-affected brethren in Kerala have one less thing to worry about i.e. financial transactions," Kumar said in another tweet tagging a list of relief measures.
There will be no charges for duplicate passbooks, deposit receipts, account statements, issuing fresh debit cards, cancellation and issuance of cheque books, and issuance of photo-affixed passbooks in case of loss of KYC documents, among others.
Further, no charges will be levied for non-maintenance of minimum balance or other charges for distress relief assistance received from the government through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Besides, while there will be no ATM charges, the ATM withdrawal limit has been increased.
"Banking services restored through temporary bank branches. Mobile ATMs deployed, sufficient availability of lower denomination notes for urgent needs. Committed to restore lives back to normal," he wrote in Twitter.
Other relief measures taken for facilitating banking in flood-affected Kerala include exchange of soiled, mutilated and defective notes at all branches of banks, and soggy, pulpy notes to be collected with name, address and account details, to be sent to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Staff at the counters have been sensitised to provide hassle-free services, according to him.
"To stabilise the worst hit #Agriculture & #MSMEs sectors in flood-affected #Kerala - following measures including moratorium, need based fresh loans, no penal interest on current dues etc. being taken," he tweeted.
Fresh consumption loans up to Rs 10,000 would be granted on need basis, while security and margin have been waived, and the fresh loans are repayable in 36 months.
Loans related to agriculture and allied activities have been given a moratorium for one year, including extension of repayment by one year, no penal interest on current dues and no compounding of interest.
Loans related to MSMEs have also been given one-year moratorium and granted extension of repayment period.
"Insurance sector stands shoulder to shoulder with #Kerala in its hour of need. All Pub./Pvt. Sec. Insurance Co. instructed to expedite claim settlements with exemption of survey up to a certain limit," he added.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
