Minister asks officials to work in tandem during natural disasters

U.T. Khader, Health and Family Welfare Minister and in-charge of disaster management for the three coastal districts, chairs a review meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mangaluru on Sunday.

| Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH

All departments should work in coordination to deal with natural disasters during the monsoon and respond immediately to problems arising from floods, Health and Family Welfare Minister and in-charge of disaster management for the three coastal districts U.T. Khader said on Saturday.Speaking while presiding over a meeting in Udupi, the Minister said that in the coming days, when there is heavy rain, floods, lightning and other rain-related disasters, Village Accountants and Panchayat Development Officers should immediately console affected families, instil confidence in them and provide the relief available under government rules. Affected families should not feel insecure, he said.Families affected by rain or other natural calamities should be provided with immediate relief of ₹5,000. In case of death, compensation of ₹5 lakh, and in case of complete damage to the house, ₹1.20 lakh, along with an additional ₹3.75 lakh from the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation, should be provided, he said.The government has implemented several schemes and welfare programmes for the benefit of the public. Officials should ensure that these schemes reach all eligible beneficiaries promptly and according to the rules, the Minister said.Mr. Khader said classes should not be held in schoolrooms with weak walls or roofs.He said there was a possibility of an increase in various diseases during the rainy season, and the Health Department should make the necessary preparations to prevent their spread. Public awareness should also be created on disease prevention. Licences of commercial establishments that allow mosquito breeding should be cancelled. Fogging and other control measures should be intensified in areas reporting dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. Local bodies should also take the necessary measures to control the stray dog population.During the monsoon, it should be ensured that there is no shortage of seeds and fertilizers in the district. Farmers should be made aware of pest management in horticultural crops, and efforts should be made to ensure that more farmers enrol under crop insurance schemes, he said.He said a team of police, fire personnel, and home guards should be ready to carry out rescue operations and respond to the public.MLAs Yashpal Suvarna, Gururaj Gantihole, A. Kiran Kumar Kodgi, Gurme Suresh Shetty, Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa, and others were present. Published - July 05, 2026 07:52 pm IST