Date:16/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/16/stories/2008041658990300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

1,000 beneficiaries get flood relief materials

Staff Reporter

Indian Red Cross Society’s first time initiative at the district level

— PHOTO: R.M. RAJARATHINAM

Humane: Collector T. Soundaiah distributing relief materials in Tiruchi.

TIRUCHI: Flood relief materials worth Rs. 15 lakh were distributed to 1,000 beneficiaries on Tuesday at a function got up by the Indian Red Cross Society, Tiruchi branch.

The society volunteered to distribute for the first time at the district level materials such as mats, stoves, towels , bed sheets, saris, dhotis, candles, batteries and plates to non-government organisations executing programmes of the Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Board.

In Tiruchi district, there are about 50 voluntary organisations funded by the Board under welfare initiatives such as crèche, family counselling centres, short-stay home and awareness programme. The Board also funds the Family Counselling Centre functioning on the premises of Women’s Prison here.

Handing over the materials, Collector T. Soundiah lauded the NGOs And said that unlike in the case of government departments that have to evaluate norms such as economic status and age criterion for determining beneficiaries, service organisations have the advantage of reaching out to the needy without any inhibitions.

Presiding over, the Board Chairperson Salma said that the society was instrumental in bringing to fore the helping tendency of the public through its humanitarian services. She hoped that the district would continue to receive higher attention in future.

In her address, the State Secretary of the Society Shanthi Diaz clarified that the Red Cross symbol transcends religion and that the society was well known the world over for carrying out services honestly and transparently.

She requested the district administration to provide adequate land to house the office of the society’s local branch.

Sr. Maria Kamalam, Director SOC SEAD, explained the scope for women to build a better society by joining hands.

The Chairman of the Society’s Tiruchi Branch L. Gnanaraj and the District Social Welfare Officer Lakshmi offered felicitations.