Ex-CM suggests using Rs 2 lakh crore unclaimed money for disaster relief
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Shimla: Former Himachal chief minister Shanta Kumar has suggested that the central govt should come up with a law for the utilisation of Rs 2 lakh crore unclaimed money lying in various banks, insurance policies, and employee provident fund (EPF) accounts of those who died without any legal heir to claim it.
He added that this money could be used for natural disaster relief, including in Himachal.
The monsoon disaster in Himachal Pradesh should be declared a national disaster, and out of this unclaimed Rs 2 lakh crore, at least Rs 20,000 crore should be given to the Himachal govt for monsoon disaster relief, said the former chief minister on Saturday. He added that by making a law, this money would be put to good use as it is now the country's money, which was lying in accounts for years.
"There can be no better place for its good use than in a natural disaster like Himachal," he added.
The former chief minister has demanded that the Himachal govt and all the MPs from the state raise this issue strongly with the central govt. He stated that according to a report, Rs 42,270 crore is unclaimed in various banks across the country, Rs 32,273 crore in post offices, Rs 8,500 crore in EPF accounts, and Rs 20,062 crore in the Life Insurance Corporation of India. He added that much more such unclaimed money is lying with the govt.
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