Cheque issued under Prime Minister's Relief Fund bounces

A cheque of Rs 10,000 issued by Yavatmal district collector to a farmer's widow under the Prime Minister's Relief Fund has bounced for lack of funds.

Vandana Anil Shende, whose husband had committed suicide on August 23 last year, was handed over cheque of Rs 10,000 on February 7 by the collector towards partly providing her with financial assistance under the Prime Minister's National Relief fund, a NGO Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti, president Kishore Tiwari said.

The cheque deposited with district Central co-operative bank, Yavatmal, bounced with the bank informing Shende about the fund insufficiency on June 29 in a note, he said.

He also made available copies of bounced cheque and intimation to account holder from co-operative bank to the media.

Tiwari also demanded immediate suspension of Yavatmal collector, who issued the cheque.

An amount of Rs 6 lakh allocated to each district, is at the district collector's disposal to extend immediate financial assistance to distressed families of farmers, he added.