PM: Cess not under study as of now

QUAKE AFTERMATH

A few hours before his departure for the Tsunami affected states, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took stock of the situation and said that "as of now", there was no talk of a cess to finance rescue and relief work. He was visiting the crisis management control room in the North Block, set up by the home ministry, to monitor and coordinate relief and rehabilitation work.

The Prime Minister described the Tsunami disaster as a "national calamity" and said that a cess to mop up resources was not necessary.

Singh said the main aim of the government was to ensure that resources reached the affected people and relief to the best of human efforts, extended.

To a question that India has refused foreign aid, the prime minister said: "We have not refused it. We are very grateful to the friendly countries for their gestures but we feel that we can cope up with the situation on our own and we will take their help if needed."

Observing that the government was "very confident" of handling and coping with the situation, Singh said: "The Centre will spare no effort to deal with the situation and ensure speedy relief and rehabilitation."

"I am myself going to tour some of the affected areas," he said maintaining that whatever financial and any other assistance required by the stricken areas would be provided.

The Prime Minister spent nearly 40 minutes in the control room where he was briefed by the Home Minister, Home Secretary Dhirendra Singh and top officials.He also interacted with the people manning the control room on a round-the-clock basis.

Singh will be off to Trivandrum tonight. It is ironical that his trip to the state capital had earlier been scheduled for the end of December but had been cancelled due to certain problems being faced by the Oomen Chandy ministry in Kerala.

A PMO spokesman said Singh would also be touring Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Andhra Pradesh. The Prime Minister, he said, would be visiting the Andaman and Nicobar islands next week, dates for which were yet to be set.

Later, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said it was sufficient to describe the tragedy as a national calamity and that the government, the public sector, the private sector and individuals were all contributing to help in tiding over it.

Speaking in Vedaranyam in Tamil Nadu, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said funds were not a constraint for relief and rehabilitation work in the tsunami-affected states but was non-commital on whether the government would levy a one per cent cess to raise resources. He said this after visiting many areas of the badly-hit Nagapattinam district.

Chidambaram said priority should be given to constructing pucca houses and purchase of fishing nets. State governments should evolve a special package keeping this in mind, he said.

The Centre had sanctioned Rs 500 crore for relief work and Tamil Nadu would get the maximum share, he said.

Meanwhile, the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) today said that it will grant non-refundable advances of Rs 5,000 to all those affected by the tsunami.

The EPFO has also decided to allow withdrawal from the fund for construction of houses including acquisition of suitable site for the purpose, it said in a release.

As part of the immediate relief measures, payment of provident fund and pension to the family of the deceased members of the fund would also be made available. EPFO members or their family members can submit their claim forms at the concerned EPFO Accounts Office.

It said special cells were being opened in the affected areas for providing necessary assistance for expeditious claim settlement. A special team had been deputed for distribution of forms, the release added.