The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : State Government relief insufficient: CPI

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 19, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

State Government relief insufficient: CPI

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JULY 18. Conveying their condolences to the families, which lost their children in the Friday's fire accident in Kumbakonam, leaders of political parties and organisations have stressed the need to take steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

In a statement, the Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, said the root cause should be gone into. Further, how permission was being granted to starting schools and the increased intake should be looked into. Conscientious efforts should be made to ensure that such incidents do not recur, he said.

Ashok Singhal, working president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, said precautions should be taken at all places to prevent such tragedies from taking place.

A Communist Party of India team, including the party secretary, R. Nallakannu, met the injured children and the bereaved families and consoled them. The relief announced by the government was not sufficient, he said.

While the families of children who died should be paid Rs. 5 lakhs, the injured should be given Rs. 1 lakh. The medical expenses should be borne by the government, Mr. Nallakannu said in a statement.

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions said the latest tragedy and other accidents in the State showed that safety violations took place due to official negligence or corrupt practices. The all-India general council meeting of the organisation, which commenced at Nasik today, paid homage to the children who died in the fire.

The Srirangam Srimad Andavan Swamigal conveyed his shock and anguish over the accident and ordered release of Rs. 25,000 to undertake relief work.

The Tamizhaga Aarambapalli Asiriyar Kootani said if only steps had been taken after similar incidents took place in noon-meal centres in the past, the Kumbakonam tragedy could have been averted.

The government should learn a lesson from the accident. It was a result of commercialisation of education, said the Students Federation of India. Besides taking action against Education Department officials of Thanjavur, a survey of all schools in the State should be made to detect similar violations. Action should be initiated against the officials concerned. School and college students would strike work on July 19 and take out condolence processions.

The Dalit Panthers of India general secretary, T. Tirumavalavan, charged that it was due to the lethargic attitude of officials that the tragedy occurred. He demanded payment of Rs.10 lakhs as compensation to each victim's families.

The All-India Democratic Women's Association demanded a proper enquiry into the fire accident and action against those responsible. It also demanded that the relief amount should be increased.

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