The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Funds pouring in from other States

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Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Funds pouring in from other States

By Our Special Correspondent

Ashok Bhatt, Gujarat Law Minister, handing over a cheque for Rs. 5 crores to the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, towards relief for tsunami victims in Chennai on Tuesday. — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI, DEC.28. Various State Governments have expressed sympathies with the tsunami-affected people of Tamil Nadu, besides extending assistance in cash and kind for taking up relief and rehabilitation work.

An official release said here today that the Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Orissa, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttaranchal had conveyed their deep sense of grief and sorrow at the colossal loss of life and property caused by the recent calamity.

The Law and Justice Minister of Gujarat, Ashok Bhatt, called on the Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, at the Secretariat and handed over a cheque for Rs.5 crores towards rehabilitation of the tsunami victims on behalf of the Gujarat Government.

The Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, in a letter to Ms. Jayalalithaa said: "Our experience and resources are at your disposal. We shall consider it our privilege to be of any service to the people of Tamil Nadu in this hour of crisis."

The Karnataka Chief Minister, Dharam Singh, informed Ms. Jayalalithaa, that his Government would make a contribution of Rs. 2 crores for relief and rehabilitation. Mr. Singh, along with some of his Cabinet colleagues, would meet Ms. Jayalalithaa tomorrow and present the cheque to her.

The Chief Minister of Orissa, Navin Patnaik, also spoke to Ms. Jayalalithaa and assured of all assistance, including supply of medicines and services of medical staff to assist in the relief operations. Ms. Jayalalithaa thanked him for his "gracious gesture and informed him that the Government of Tamil Nadu would take the required assistance."

Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, in his letter to Ms. Jayalalithaa said: "It is a humanitarian challenge which we must meet forthwith. Despite our best efforts, rescue and relief efforts on a largescale always overwhelm our capacity and resources. We shall, therefore, be keen to offer our help and assistance wherever required."

Recalling the great support his State received from all over the country and abroad during the earthquake in Latur about 10 years ago, he said in the same humanitarian tradition, the people of Maharashtra would show the same spontaneity and generosity in helping their fellow-citizens. "As a State, we remain firm and united behind you in all your efforts to help people in recovering from the earthquake", Mr. Deshmukh said.

The Uttaranchal Chief Minister, Narayan Dutt Tiwari, while expressing his anguish over the tragedy in Tamil Nadu, announced that the State would be contributing Rs 1 crore to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for being passed on to the people affected by the calamity.

CJ thanks Government

The Chief Justice of Madras High Court, Markandey Katju, telephoned Ms. Jayalalithaa yesterday and thanked her for promptly rescuing hundreds of persons, including a Judge of the Supreme Court, G.P. Mathur, who were marooned on the Vivekananda Rock at Kanyakumari on Sunday.

He appealed to the members of the judiciary in the State and also in other parts of the country including judges, lawyers and registry staff to send their generous contribution to the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund (CMPRF) to help the victims of the natural calamity.

Justice Mr. Katju also made his personal contribution of Rs.10,000 to the fund. Ms. Jayalalithaa thanked the Chief Justice for his gracious gesture, the release said.

The Mata Amritanandamayi Math, in a release, said the institution would construct houses under the Amrita Kuteeram free housing scheme for those who had lost their houses. Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi also instructed her ashramites and devotees all over Tamil Nadu and Kerala to offer quick and necessary relief to the affected people. Packed food, clothes, medical assistance and transportation were offered to them on a continuous basis, the release said.

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