The Hindu : Front Page : Donations pour in

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 30, 2004

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Front Page

Donations pour in

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 29. As the nation tried to come to grips with the tragedy that hit the coastal regions on Sunday, people contributed generously to the victims. People from all walks of life, including political leaders, paramilitary forces and banks, made contributions towards the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.

The Union Power Minister, P. M. Sayeed, today presented a cheque for Rs. 15 crores to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, as a contribution of all Central power sector undertakings towards the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. A cheque for Rs 4.4 crores was presented to the Prime Minister by the Director-General of the Central Reserve Police Force on behalf of the personnel who gave a day's salary for the victims.

The DMK leader, M. Karunanidhi, gave Rs. 1 crore to the Prime Minister on behalf of his party. A delegation of Left leaders, led by Harkishen Singh Surjeet and Nilotpal Basu, presented a cheque for Rs. 15 lakhs and said Left MPs would contribute a month's salary towards the Fund.

All officials in the Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region, Ministry of Youth Affairs and its associated bodies, have decided to contribute a day's salary to the Fund.

The Fund will also receive a day's salary of the staff of the Coast Guards and the donations made by the working class to the All India Trade Union Congress which collected Rs. 7 lakhs on Wednesday.

Youth fete postponed

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has postponed the 11th National Youth Festival, scheduled to be held in Hyderabad from January 12 to 16 as organisations such as the Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sangathan and the National Service Scheme are involved in relief work in the coastal regions.

Contributing a month's salary towards the Prime Minister's Relief Fund, the National Human Rights Commission chairperson, Mr. Justice A. S. Anand, appealed to members and staff to make generous contributions.

A sum of Rs. 2 crores came from Andhra Bank, an equal amount from the Union Bank of India and a contribution of Rs. 1 crore from the Corporation Bank.

The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation has announced that it will support children orphaned by the tsunami. The Foundation will adopt children who have lost both parents. It will meet the cost of their schooling up to senior secondary level.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has sanctioned 390 mega work camps to be organised by Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sangathan that will put up rescue camps, community kitchens, and reconstruct damaged houses and establish schools, health centres and other public utility services. The estimated cost of this exercise is about Rs. 1.95 crores, an official spokesperson said.

The private sector has joined hands with the Government to provide aid. Havell's India, the Indian Power Distribution Equipment Company, today gave Rs. 11 lakhs to the PM's Relief Fund.

Non-government organisations, too, have volunteered to mitigate the suffering of the affected people by offering monetary and material help.

The Church's Auxiliary for Social Action has announced an initial aid package of Rs. 9.05 crores for relief operations. It is assisting 50,000 families by providing food and drinking water to 30,000 families through partner institutions and organisations. It has sent dry rations to 50,000 families besides temporary shelter and essential items.

The United Nations Children's Fund has launched massive relief operations in various districts of Tamil Nadu. It has sent drinking water, bleaching powder, chlorine tablets and oral rehydration packets to Pondicherry, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari and other districts of Tamil Nadu and some parts of Kerala.

The Voluntary Health Association of India has sent emergency teams to the affected states. The teams consist of doctors, paramedics and volunteers along with medicine, food, blankets, plastic sheets, utensils and other essential items.

The Indian Association of Tour Operators has also launched a special fund collection drive for the tsunami victims by appealing to its members to donate generously.

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