The Hindu : Kerala News : `Shortcomings in relief work'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

`Shortcomings in relief work'

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 10. The senior Congress leader K. Karunakaran has criticised the Oommen Chandy Government's relief and rehabilitation work in the tsunami affected areas in the State.

At a press conference here today, Mr. Karunakaran alleged that the Government had failed to reach relief to the affected people. He also criticised the Government for the lack of coordination in mobilising funds for the rehabilitation and wanted it to monitor such activities. "A lot of people are mobilising funds through hat collections. Is there any account for this? Is it flowing into the Chief Minister's relief fund? Is it reaching the affected people?"

He said several individuals and organisations had come forward offering help. The Government had failed to give the leadership in coordinating their activities. He contrasted this attitude with the one the Government had adopted towards the offer of well-meaning organisations such as the Mata Amritanandamayi Ashram, which had announced Rs.100 crores for the rehabilitation work. Till date, the Government had not come forward to hold a discussion on how to utilise the amount, he said.

The Mata had announced that the amount would be spent according to the Government's directions. She had also expressed the willingness to handover the relief amount to the Government to spend it the way it wanted, besides offering to adopt the orphaned children irrespective of their caste or religion. "It is unfortunate that the Government did not respond to such a gesture if only to recognise the contributions of such people and give encouragement to them," he observed.

Mr. Karunakaran said the promised free rations for the tsunami survivors had not reached the relief camps. Asked about it, the Food Minister informed him that the District Collector had already issued the relevant orders, but the panchayats concerned had rejected it, he said.

Pathetic situation

Stating that he had contributed Rs.11 lakhs from his MPs fund and a month's salary and allowance for tsunami relief, Mr. Karunakaran wanted the Government to ensure maintenance of proper accounts of the funds thus mobilised. He had received complaints about the pathetic situation prevailing in the relief camps, many of which were without the bare amenities and were facing the threat of an epidemic. "Why is this happening? It is not enough to undertake journeys throughout the length and breadth of the State and issue statements," he said.

He said he had attended some of the relief committee meetings and had put forward a few suggestions. Some of these suggestions were accepted, but the Government did not go any further. He congratulated the Government for marking its presence at the NRI meeting in Mumbai, but its record on relief and rehabilitation was a blot.

Comparing the Chandy Government's responses to that of the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh's, Mr. Karunakaran said he was not willing to rate the Government's performance on the relief front. His aim at highlighting the shortcomings was intended to ensure that relief was made available to the hapless people.

Asked whether he felt that the Government was misusing the relief funds, Mr. Karunakaran said that he would not venture to make such a statement, but he was of the firm opinion that the Government was not utilising the funds the way it should be.

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