The Hindu : National : Paswan asks Centre to expedite relief work

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 31, 2004

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National

Paswan asks Centre to expedite relief work

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 30. The Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan, has asked the Centre to expedite relief work in the tsunami-hit areas. He said most of the affected belonged to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes. Mr. Paswan, who visited some of the areas on Tuesday and Wednesday, told reporters here today that though the relief operations were on, they needed to be expedited by deputing more officers to help the District Magistrates.

Announcing that the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) had collected Rs. 1.5 crores and Rs. 50 lakhs for the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, Mr. Paswan said the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, comprising a dozen major India pharma companies, was contributing medicines worth Rs.1 crore.

The employees of the Madras Fertilizers Limited would contribute a day's salary for the Fund, while the Lok Janshakti Party MPs and MLAs would also donate a month's salary towards the relief effort.

However, Mr. Paswan said the contributions from Delhi did not appear adequate and Delhiites needed to donate more generously.

Chandra Shekhar, Karan Singh chip in

The former Prime Minister, Chandra Shekhar, has donated a month's salary while the Rajya Sabha M.P., Karan Singh, sanctioned Rs. 20 lakhs from his M.P. Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund for relief in Pondicherry.

The BJP has asked the Central Government to arrange for free transportation of relief material. The BJP vice-president, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, said he had written to the Union Home, Shivraj Patil, to help the BJP and other organisations for transportation of relief material through the railways.

The Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, Charanjit Singh Atwal, has contributed a month's salary to the victims of the tsunami tragedy.

Staff of the National Commission for Women and its chairperson, Poornima Advani, have decided to contribute one day's salary.

The Sterlite group has announced that it would contribute Rs. 1.5 crores towards the Chief Minister's (Tamil Nadu) Relief Fund. The company employees have contributed a day's salary.

Corporation Bank has also announced a contribution of Rs.1 crore to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund donated by the staff as one day's salary.

The Motor Industries Company Limited (MICO) and its parent company, Robert Bosch, had contributed Rs.1 crore and Rs. 30 lakhs respectively.

World Vision India, has announced that it will disburse material assistance worth Rs. 9 crores.

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