The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Sanction relief in full, Ramadoss urges Centre

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 09, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Sanction relief in full, Ramadoss urges Centre

By Our Special Correspondent

VILLUPURAM, JAN. 8. The Pattali Makkal Katchi has urged the Centre to sanction in full Rs. 4,800 crores as sought by the Tamil Nadu Government for providing relief to the tsunami-hit people.

The resolution was passed at the general body meeting held at Thailapuram near here yesterday, which was headed by the founder leader, S. Ramadoss. It said the Centre had quantified the damage in Tamil Nadu at Rs. 2,750 crores and in Pondicherry at Rs. 512 crores. The party called upon the Centre to allocate adequate funds to both Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry to carry out the relief works. The PMK suggested that the State Government undertake "fast track construction" to provide shelter to the homeless, for which it could adopt the Latur model.

The party proposed the setting up of the "Tamil Nadu Tsunami Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Management Board," comprising experts and engineers, to construct houses that could withstand the impact of natural calamities.

Besides this, the State Government should create a separate department and appoint a minister to speed up the rehabilitation process.

Postpone exams

The PMK wanted the public examinations for standards X and XII postponed for two-three weeks. Both the Central and State Governments must jointly put up warning centres all along the coast to take precautionary measures.

`Form task force'

Later, Dr. Ramadoss called upon the youth wing to raise a "1,000-member task force" to take up relief works whenever natural calamity strikes.

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