Opinion - Editorials   

Get serious about flood assistance

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has very good reason to complain about the unsatisfactory nature and lackadaisical pace of the United Progressive Alliance Government's response to the flood-ravaged State's plea for financial assistance to take up relief and rehabilitation measures. A substantial part of Tamil Nadu, covering no fewer than 22 of its 30 districts, is reeling under the assault of successive systems of the Northeast monsoon. There have been at least four major systems that caused havoc to the State's infrastructure and flooded hundreds of thousands of people out of their homes. Two Central teams have come and gone, after inspecting and assessing the damage. While the first report is still apparently under "process," the second team's recommendations might just be ready, now that all clarifications have been given. The State Government has sought a total assistance of Rs.13,685 crore, and the Centre has released a first instalment or `advance' of Rs.500 crore! What possible relief and rehabilitation can the State Government undertake with such unserious assistance? Starting with December 26, 2004, Tamil Nadu has faced the brunt of nature's fury in one form or another. All objective observers will recognise that the Jayalalithaa Government's response to these extreme circumstances has been commendable.

States have long nursed the grievance that the Centre has been miserly when it comes to providing assistance following natural calamities. Major earthquakes and the tsunami might seem exceptions. However, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa points out that even for the tsunami, Central assistance to Tamil Nadu thus far has been a mere Rs.679.61 crore compared with the State Government's Rs.875.62 crore allocation. Of course, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have pitched in with substantial loan-cum-grant packages for the tsunami victims. If the tsunami took a huge toll in terms of life, property, and livelihood of concentrated coastal populations, the recent torrential rain has — on top of destroying or damaging habitations and crops — caused extensive damage to the highways and roads, railways, and the irrigation network. It is clear that a massive investment, running into thousands of crores of rupees, will be needed to put livelihood and infrastructure in the State back on their feet. If the Centre cannot come speedily and effectively to the assistance of States in such crises, where can the States turn for help? The role of the defence services in rescue and relief operations at all times has been crucial. But in the final analysis, it is funding that is badly needed to enable the affected communities to return to normal lives. Placing partisan considerations aside, the UPA Government must make a radical change in the system of sanctioning assistance for natural calamities, so that State Governments are able to provide relief on a war footing and take up rehabilitation work effectively. Only then can the federal structure be strengthened. Meanwhile, a visit to Tamil Nadu by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to see for himself the nature and scale of the devastation and to express solidarity with its people is overdue.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Get serious about flood assistance
Being realistic over Hong Kong
Opening up the socialist space in Indian politics
Joining the venture to harness fusion
Changing tack to stay in the fray
Venezuela: opposition plays truant
New definitions of words used in `war on terror'
Uma's expulsion
Natwar's resignation
Stalling Parliament

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu