The Hindu : Rs. 150 cr. for rehabilitation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 02, 2002

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Rs. 150 cr. for rehabilitation

By P. Sunderarajan

NEW DELHI May 1. The Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, today announced a Rs.150 crore rehabilitation package for the victims of the communal carnage in Gujarat.

This includes assistance for reconstruction and repair of damaged houses and shops in urban and rural centres, and aid for the self-employed among the victims to restart their business, commercial and industrial activities.

This was in addition to the relief package announced by him when he visited Ahmedabad on April 4. Intervening during the debate on the censure motion on Gujarat in the Lok Sabha in the wee hours today, Mr. Vajpayee announced the package and made a public appeal for support to the riot victims. "The spirit of spontaneous support and brotherhood demonstrated by all sections of society in Gujarat in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in January last year has to be kindled once again,'' he said.

The ``package for economic rehabilitation'' will be implemented within four months. The Cabinet Secretariat will monitor the implementation of the package on a weekly basis.

"Rehabilitation of all those who lost their homes, belongings and means of livelihood and immediate revival of normal economic activities in all the riot-affected areas now remain the primary national tasks. They need to be addressed with the utmost expedition, understanding and sympathy,'' Mr. Vajpayee said.

The package also provides for the revival of educational, medical and other institutions in the riot-hit areas and special programmes for the benefit of children and women who have lost their husbands in the violence.

In addition, it would be "fully supplemented'' by loans and assistance from banks and financial institutions on liberal and concessional terms as had been extended following the earthquake last year. Financial institutions would be asked to catalyse industrial and economic activities and in this endeavour, the National Minorities Finance and Development Corporation would be enabled to play a supportive role. The support of HUDCO and the National Housing Bank for building and reconstruction of houses and shops would be enlisted.

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