The Hindu : Kerala News : Advani for comprehensive coastal insurance scheme

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

Kerala

Kerala

Advani for comprehensive coastal insurance scheme

By Our Kerala Bureau

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, L.K. Advani, speaking to those injured by the tsunamis, at Karunagapally taluk hospital on Tuesday.

KAYAMKULAM, DEC. 28. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, L.K. Advani, has demanded that a comprehensive coastal insurance scheme be implemented for the residents of the coastal areas in the country.

Speaking to mediapersons at Kayamkulam taluk hospital here this evening, Mr. Advani said the risk factor was high for the residents of coastal areas. The insurance scheme should not be limited to providing coverage against diseases but should also provide compensation against damage caused by natural calamities.

Mr. Advani, who is also the BJP president, said even if those who were killed or injured in the present catastrophe did not get the benefit of the insurance scheme, future generations would be able to benefit out of it. Mr. Advani promised that he would pressure the Central Government to implement such a scheme immediately.

Mr. Advani will ask the Chief Ministers of six BJP-ruled States to provide assistance to the States where people have been hit by the tsunami. This will be done after Mr. Advani has assessed the extent of damage caused by the tsunami along the coast areas.

Centre to be apprised

The Opposition leader said the aim of his visit to the tsunami-affected areas was to get first-hand information of what the people really needed. He would inform the Government about the needs of the fishermen.

The Government and the public should jointly carry out the relief operations, he said.

At the hospital, he visited the stalls of Seva Bharathi, engaged in relief operations at Arattupuzha.

Mr. Advani spent half an hour at the hospital. He was accompanied by the BJP leader O. Rajagopal and the State president, P.S. Sreedharan Pillai.

Mr. Advani landed at a helipad in Cheppad by 2.45 p.m. Later he went to Alappad panchayat in Kollam district by car. Mr. Advani visited the relief camps at Karunagapally, Oachira and Klappana. The BJP leader P.P. Mukundan told The Hindu at the Karunagapaly taluk hospital that the Tamil Nadu police had prevented Mr. Advani from visiting the tsunami-affected areas near Kolachal.

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