CPI(M) demands cyclone Phailin be declared a National Calamity

With Odisha incurring huge loss of property and standing crops due to cyclone Phailin and resultant floods, CPI(M) today demanded declaration of the situation as a National Calamity besides waiver of agricultural loan for the year 2013-14.
"The devastation caused by Phailin be declared as a National Calamity and the Central Government should shoulder the lion's share of the responsibility of relief and restoration," the CPI(M) in a memorandum to the Odisha Governor said.
Stating that the central government should send a team immediately to assess the loss, the CPI(M) said that the people who have lost their houses in the calamity should be provided with safe houses to be built at an expense of Rs 1 lakh each. The central government should share 90 per cent of responsibility for the project, they said.

Asking the Centre to provide financial assistance of Rs 12,000 per acre of crop loss, the Left party said that the farmers need to be provided with free inputs and interest free agricultural loan.
The party also suggested several measures including steps to check migration of affected people, employment for artisans, support for students and others for the welfare of the cyclone-flood affected districts.