The Hindu : National : Private sector, individuals join tsunami relief effort

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004

National

National

Private sector, individuals join tsunami relief effort

By Our New Delhi Bureau

NEW DELHI, DEC. 28. With the magnitude of the tsunami tragedy sinking in by the day, the private sector and individuals have begun contributing to the ongoing effort to provide succour to the victims. While some companies have pledged money, others have offered their services.

Infosys Technologies today announced a contribution of Rs. 5 crores to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. It is supporting its employees' efforts across group companies globally to make monetary and material contributions towards aid operations in the areas affected by the tsunami that ravaged South and South East Asia on Sunday.

The Gulf airline, Emirates, announced a package of emergency measures to facilitate early departure of passengers stuck in tsunami-hit areas. Also, it has decided to allow passengers — booked to go to the affected areas — to postpone their visits without any penalty for change in plans. The airline has activated 24-hour customer helplines. The numbers are: Chennai - 55834444, Mumbai- 28797979, and Dubai - 2144021.

Similarly, TCI Seaways Ltd. — a division of Transport Corporation of India — has offered to transport relief materials to tsunami-struck South East Asia; particularly, peninsular India and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

The company has written to the Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, informing him that two of its vessels were ready for loading and would leave for Port Blair.

The Punjab National Bank has decided to donate Rs. 5 crores to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. Also, the Board of the bank has appealed to all its employees to contribute a day's salary and has authorised its various branches to collect donations free-of-charge.

Besides, the bank is taking steps to provide financial assistance and relief measures to its customers — industrial units, agriculturalists, traders and others affected by the calamity — as per Reserve Bank of India/Indian Banks Association guidelines.

Bimal Jalan's gesture

The former Reserve Bank Governor and nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, Bimal Jalan, has decided to allocate the Rs. 2 crores available to him under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme in the current fiscal for rehabilitation and reconstruction operations particularly of school buildings and vital public facilities in the affected areas. He has written to the Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Oscar Fernandes, seeking his Ministry's help in identifying the needy districts.

In a related move, the Manipur Government has decided to contribute Rs. 15 lakhs to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for relief and rehabilitation. Also, the All-India Trade Union Congress has asked the working class to donate generously and liberally to the fund — at least a day's pay — and mobilise other relief and rehabilitation material for the victims.

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