Digvijay denies misuse of Kargil, quake relief funds

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL, FEB. 12. The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Digvijay Singh, today brushed aside ``misdirected and misinformed'' reports about the funds collected for extending relief to the Kargil war heroes and the survivors of the Gujarat earthquake.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr. Digvijay Singh said that it had become necessary to set the record straight since a section of the media has been spreading misinformation regarding the utilisation of funds collected for extending relief to the victims of natural calamities as well as for the Kargil war heroes.

The Chief Minister told newspersons that Rs. 13.98 crores was currently deposited in the Kargil Relief Fund. Already Rs. 1.72 crores had been distributed among the families of the Kargil war heroes, he said, adding that the remaining part of this fund would be utilised for extending relief to the next of kin of those from the armed and para-military forces should they sacrifice their lives on the Kashmir front.

For extending relief to those affected by the Orissa cyclone, Rs. 7.84 crores were collected and the entire amount has been sent to the Orissa Chief Minister's Relief Fund. From this amount, extensive relief work is being carried out in the Jajpur area of Orissa, he said.

For victims of the earthquake in Jabalpur division, Rs. 9.61 crores were collected in the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, Mr. Singh said, adding that till now Rs. 108.90 crores had been spent by the State Government for extending relief in this area whereas only Rs. 45 crores were received from the Centre for this purpose.

Mr. Singh said that Rs. 1.64 crores have been collected and sent to Gujarat for extending relief to the earthquake victims. Besides cash relief, 183 doctors, 70 nurses, 116 para-medical staff from Madhya Pradesh were at present involved in relief work in Gujarat. He also rolled out a long list of relief material and medicines that have been sent to Gujarat from Madhya Pradesh.

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Section  : Other States
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