The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Give priority to rural areas in relief works

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 25, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Give priority to rural areas in relief works

Special Correspondent

Seeks compensation for fishermen, farmers

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president G.K. Vasan has urged the State Government to give priority to rural areas while executing flood relief works.

In a statement here on Thursday, he said there were complaints that relief works in rural areas had not been executed properly. The State was duty-bound to provide relief to the poor and the downtrodden, who had been affected in 15 districts. Similarly, it should give cash compensation to fishermen, who could not go out fishing due to the rough sea and farmers who had lost their crops.

Mr. Vasan said the State would not face any additional financial burden in sanctioning relief to the affected people as it had sought Central assistance of Rs. 1,742 crores. The Government, without shirking responsibility, should carry out relief works.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemned the "lathi charge" on affected people, when they adopted democratic forms of protest to draw the Government's attention.

The State executive meeting of the party here on Thursday demanded speedy execution of relief works without giving room for complaint.

As there were reports of outbreak of contagious diseases in the affected areas, the meeting urged the Government to provide immediate medical assistance to the affected.

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