INDIA NEWS

HIGH COMMISSION OF INDIA, LONDON

PRESS RELEASE JANUARY 30, 2001

GUJARAT EARTHQUAKE RELIEF UPDATE

• During his visit to Gujarat on 29 January, the Prime Minister announced financial assistance of Rs.500 crores (Rs. 5 billion or approx. US$125 million). He also sanctioned an additional Rs 20 crore (Rs. 200 million or approx. US$ 5 million) from the Prime Minister’s relief fund over and above the Rs 10 crore already announced.
  
• As the rescue and relief operations mounted on an unprecedented scale enter their fifth day, it is evident that the focus will gradually shift to relief, restoration and rehabilitation. This is reflected in the PM’s statement, made after his visit to the affected areas, that the relief work needs to be stepped up. He also said that the relief and rehabilitation work would be reviewed from time to time. Accordingly, he met some of his Cabinet colleagues in this context today.
  
• Prime Minister’s appeal for help is annexed.

• The World Bank has offered an immediate assistance of US$ 300 million as the first tranche to carry out emergency rehabilitation work in the quake-hit areas in Gujarat. The Bank said that it would provide both immediate and long-term support for reconstruction.
  

• Finance Minister Mr. Yashwant Sinha denied news reports that the government was considering imposing surcharge on direct and indirect taxes.
  

• Indian Banks Association has appointed a high level committee to suggest ways for providing assistance to Gujarat and work out the modalities of seeking soft loans from the Reserve Bank for this purpose.

• Tents for shelter;
  

• Batteries, torches, candles and kerosene for lamps;
  

• Dry food material which can last longer, such as wheat, flour, rice, lentils, gram, etc.;
  

• Medicines – for pain relief, Intra-veinous fluids, antibiotics, antibacterials, cotton bandage and surgical equipment, oral rehydration kits;
  

• Water and water purifiers attachable to any tap;
  

• Jerry cans and buckets for storing water;
  

• Burners attachable to portable cylinders;
  

• Cooking utensils

• Jaipur Branch of NAFED is organising distribution of Rice, Daal and Atta packets in severely affected areas in/around Bhuj.
  

• Government of Punjab have offered to provide ready-made food to 1.00 Lakh persons daily. 

• 2000 C-DOT Exchanges functional at Bhuj and Gandhidham.
  

• People have been allowed to make free calls from the PCOs provided by BSNL.
  

• 140 Mbps Optical fibre network connecting Gandhidham and Bhuj to Rajkot has become operational.
  

• 20 Inmarsat phones have been deployed.
  

• Eight VSATs diferted to Gujarat from all over the Country are getting ready for commissioning at Kandla port, Samarasar, Lakhpat, Naktarana, Khavda, Bachau, Anjar and Naliya.
  

• 1000 Sat-phones are being procured from Dubai.
  

• Hot lines are being provided at the Taluka Headquarters.
  

• 256 line exchanges installed at Anjar, Bhachau, Rapar, Gagodar, Mandavi, Mundra, Nakhtrama. At Naliya 1000 line C-Dot exchange installed. AT&T lines operational in Bhuj and Gandhidham.
  

• Telecom personnel alongwith telecom equipment , one exchange and V-SAT terminals already reached Gujarat.
  

• Power restored to Bhuj partly.
  

• Rural Electrification Corporation has sanctioned Rs.100 crores (US$ 25 million) each for power lines and for transformers.

• International assistance has been forthcoming from Australia (disaster management experts and US$550,000), Bangladesh (20,000 tons of rice and 12-member medical team together with first aid supplies), Belgium (US$920,000 as emergency aid and reconstruction), Canada ($2 million in aid -- $1.3 million to help furnish basic necessities to quake victims and $660,000 to Canadian and Indian relief organisations and the Red Cross), China ($602,000 in disaster relief; separately, China's Red Cross offered $50,000), Greece ($270,000 in financial aid relief supplies), Israel (150 strong -emergency aid mission), Italy (team of experts and $2.3 million for emergency equipment), Kuwait (US$250,000 in emergency relief from Kuwaiti Red Cross), The Netherlands (US$2.5 million through UNICEF and other aid agencies), New Zealand (grant of US$200,000), Pakistan (13 tons of relief material comprising of blankets and food material), Qatar (unspecified), Saudi Arabia (relief supplies), Syria (medical and other relief supplies), Taiwan (US$100,000 through Red Cross), UAE (relief material), UK (total of £10 million apart from rescue team and other relief supplies including 1200 tents), US (relief supplies; USAID to send US$ 5 million worth of aid supplies apart from 80 tons of relief material it has already sent) and Vietnam (relief supplies).
  

• Among international agencies sending disaster relief to India is UNICEF ($8 million committed in immediate aid).

• Intense efforts to mobilize financial and other material help have been launched in various countries such as UK, US, Canada, France, etc. Several social and charity organizations launched appeals in this regard. Many of them have already raised several hundred thousand pounds and aim to raise many millions more. Some are also dispatching relief material including food packets, etc.

• While it is too early to compute the damage brought about by the earthquake, various estimates put it in the region of Rs. 25,000 crores. (Rs. 250 billion or approx. US$ 6 billion). Half of this is to buildings and constructions. Losses due to damage to infrastructure facilities are estimated between Rs 2,000 crore (approx. US$ 500 million) and Rs 3,000 crore (approx.US$750 million). Damages to factory and production units have been put at Rs 1,500 crore (approx. US$400 million). Besides this, losses due to complete stoppage of work are estimated at Rs 3,500 crore to Rs 4,000 crore (approx. US$850 million – 1 billion).

• People from all walks of life and from all communities have come together in providing succour to the quake-hit people.
  
• Air India have been advised to provide seats to the kin of the victims on a priority basis.

 "Dear Brothers & Sisters,

The country woke on the morning of 26^th January, 2001 to the worst earthquake independent India has seen. Thousands of people in the State of Gujarat have lost their lives and property worth crores of rupees has been damaged.

We cannot leave our brothers and sisters to the mercy of fate or the cruelty of vagaries of nature. At this moment, they need our help - to tide over the calamity that has fallen upon them, to survive, to rebuild their lives as best they can.

The Union Government would be releasing funds from the existing schemes. However, given the magnitude of the calamity and the large number of people affected, the funds available are inadequate. You can help to meet the shortage by contributing money, no matter how small the amount, to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

Last year it was your assistance that has enabled us to meet the challenge posed by the Super Cyclone that devastated Coastal Orissa. I am confident that this time too, you shall come forward to lend a helping hand.

Together, we can overcome even this adversity.

Jai Hind."

DONATING FOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

• Benefit of 100% deduction to donations made on or before 30^th June 2001 to charitable institutions already registered with the Income-Tax Department is allowed subject to following of specific guidelines.
  
• Donations made to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and Chief Minister’s Relief Fund of any State are already entitled to the benefit of 100% deduction from the income of the donor.
  
• The relief material supplied for earthquake victims is exempted from Customs/Excise Duty.
  
• The donations can be made to Prime Minister's National Relief Fund through cheques, bank drafts or credit cards.

Cheque /Draft No : ____________________ Bank Name : ____________ Branch :_________

Amount : _________ Amount in words_____________________  

Kindly mail your cheques / Drafts along with this slip to

PM NRF, Prime Minister's Office, PO Box No : 5411 New Delhi 110011.

Cheques and drafts can also be sent to the High Commission of India in London for forwarding to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Form for payment through Credit Cards

Name : __________________________________________ ( As it appears on the credit card)

Address : __________________________________________

PIN    _____________        Country _________________

Phone __ ___________(Off)__ __________(Res)

Card : Diners / Master Card / VISA / AMEX

Card No. : ---- ---- ---- ----

Expiry Date : -- /----

(MM/YYYY )

Amount : Rs -- US$-- Euro-- GBP--    .…….……     Currency Amount

Amount in Words : _______________________________________________

Date of Birth : -- -- ----  
of Card Holder  DDMMYYYY

Email Address : ________________________

Please make this donation to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.

I will at no stage dispute this donation and I confirm that this Credit Card belongs to me.

______________________

Signature

(As it appears on credit card).

Card holders may please either mail this slip to

PM NRF,Prime Minister's Office P O Box No : 5411 New Delhi 110011

or Fax this slip to FAX no 91-44-8202221.

Press Release No. 13/2001

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