The Uttarakhand state disaster management authority, under the department of disaster management, provides financial assistance to people whose residential houses have been completely or partially damaged due to natural disasters.The ‘Assistance for Completely Damaged/Destroyed Houses’ scheme covers disaster-affected houses in both plain and hilly areas of Uttarakhand. The assistance varies depending on the extent of damage, type of house and location
Benefits under the scheme
For a pucca or kutcha house that has been severely damaged or destroyed, the scheme provides financial assistance of Rs 1.20 lakh per house in plain areas. In hilly areas, including districts covered under the Integrated Action Plan, the assistance is Rs 1.30 lakh per house.However, for houses that have suffered at least 15 per cent damage, the assistance is:• Pucca house, other than a hut: Rs 6,500 per house• Kutcha house, other than a hut: Rs 4,000 per house• Damaged or destroyed hut: Rs 8,000 per hutA hut under the scheme refers to a temporary, transferable and below-grade unit made using materials such as thatch, mud or plastic and traditionally recognised as a hut by the state or district administration.The scheme also provides Rs 3,000 for a cattle shed attached to the damaged house.However, before the financial assistance is granted, the damaged house must be verified as an authorised construction by the competent authority of the state government.
Eligibility and verification
To receive assistance under the scheme, the applicant must meet two conditions:1. The applicant must be a resident of Uttarakhand.2. The applicant must be the owner of a house affected by a disaster.The damage assessment follows a multi-level verification process. First, the concerned patwari records the damage in the P-20 form. The report is then examined by the tehsildar and SDM.The key document required under the process is the P-20 Entry Confirmation, which is recorded by the concerned patwari, while the requirement for other documents depends on the case.
Application process
The assistance is processed through the local revenue administration and does not involve a separate online application process under the procedure provided for the scheme.Information about a disaster and the damage caused to houses is received from various sources. The concerned Patwari then verifies the damage and records the details in the P-20 form.The patwari’s report is subsequently verified by the tehsildar and the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM). After these verifications, approval is obtained from the district magistrate (DM).Once the DM approves the assistance, the relief funds are disbursed to eligible beneficiaries at the tehsil level.