The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘Central aid for calamities inadequate’

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Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘Central aid for calamities inadequate’

Staff Reporter

Aid trickled whenever State approached it for assistance during natural disasters, says TDP

Central aid less than 5 p.c. of what State sought during the last four years: Naidu
Demands government to increase ex gratia to at least Rs.3 lakh each to flood victims

GOOTY (ANANTAPUR DT.): The Congress Government in the State failed to get appropriate aid from the Central Government to overcome the devastation caused by calamities like the present heavy rains and floods, TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu alleged here on Monday.

The Centre had just trickled something whenever the State had approached it for help during calamities, he said. In support of his allegation Mr. Naidu cited that as against an assistance of Rs.16,658 crore sought by the State Government during the last four years, when the natural calamities had hit the State, the Centre had given Rs.555 crore only. It was less than five per cent of what the State Government had requested for.

The Congress bigwigs in the State Government had failed to convince the Central Government headed by the same party to extend necessary assistance.

Speaking during his ‘Mee Kosam’ yatra for the second day in the district he also criticised the State Government in payment of meagre ex-gratia to the flood victims.

The Government was paying Rs.50,000 each from Apathbandu scheme and Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to those killed in floods.

He demanded the government hike the ex-gratia to at least Rs.3 lakh so that the amount could provide some succour to the victim families.

The TDP president also asked the Government to supply 50 kgs of rice and 20 litres of kerosene free to all the families affected by the floods.

The farmers who had suffered loss should be given both seed and fertiliser free to overcome the situation, he suggested.

Further, he demanded the Centre to declare the present floods in the State as a national calamity.

The State Government was showing partiality in developing different regions and areas within the regions, Mr. Naidu alleged. He explained that while Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s native Kadapa district was being developed industrially and educationally by pumping huge funds, a step-motherly treatment was being given to the neighbouring but one of most backward districts in the country, Anantapur.

Mr. Naidu also congratulated Abhinav Bindra for making the country proud by winning the first individual gold medal in Olympics.

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