The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : `No pro-MNC approach to rehabilitation'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 27, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`No pro-MNC approach to rehabilitation'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JAN. 26. The Special Commissioner and Commissioner of Revenue Administration, R. Santhanam, today denied that the State Government was opting for a "pro-multinational corporation (MNC) approach" to rehabilitation in the tsunami affected areas by seeking assistance from the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Responding to pleas from non-governmental organisations at a State-level meeting here on civil society partnership in rehabilitation, Mr. Santhanam made it clear that the Government had not developed a soft corner for the MNCs.

The meeting was held by the Tsunami-Relief, Rehabilitation Coordination, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry (TRRC).

Mr. Santhanam said, "We want to restore the livelihood of the people. Whatever model is suitable to them will be implemented."

On views expressed by the NGOs about the role of the WB and the ADB in rehabilitation, he said representatives of the two agencies visited the State on their own to see the damage and how the situation was tackled. The nature of their support was not known at this stage.

Locals consulted

Denying that consultation with locals was lacking in the rehabilitation process, he said the Government had held discussions with NGO functionaries and elected representatives. "We do not want to brush aside the views of the people who have a good track record in community service. At the same time, we do not want to encourage self-styled leaders."

The Government would announce the long-term rehabilitation plan only after completing consultations with stakeholders. Though more emphasis was given to rehabilitation of the fishing community as it bore the brunt of the disaster, it did not mean the other sections including farmers, Dalits and farm workers were neglected, he said.

Mr. Santhanam said the Government had no intention of bypassing the panchayats. No uniform design for permanent housing would be imposed on the people.

The Government had no intention of disbursing money to the victims in instalments to construct houses on their own, he said.

V. Mohini Giri, chairperson, Guild of Service, recommended compulsory reservation of a certain percentage of seats in schools with boarding facilities for the orphaned children and schemes to rehabilitate and empower the affected women, by rallying them under self-help groups.

The Officer on Special Duty (Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation), C.V. Shankar, said the Government wished that the entire community work in tandem to achieve rehabilitation of all the affected people and restoration of their livelihood.

Vasanthi Devi, Chairperson, State Commission for Women; N. Markandan, former Vice-Chancellor, Gandhigram Deemed University; Henri Tiphagne, State convener, TRRC; and Babu Mathew, country director, Actionaid India, highlighted the recommendations evolved by the NGO representatives.

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