Thiruvananthapuram: Chief minister
Pinarayi Vijayan said that more than relief material, government required financial support. Cautioning against excess supply of unwanted materials, he asked NGOs to coordinate relief measures with district collectors to ensure smooth supply of basic items.
While appreciating the help received from people within and outside the state, Vijayan said that those staying at relief centres have to go home one day. “These people will need several utensils and household materials to rebegin life. However, many things are simply collected and passed onto relief camps without considering what is necessary,” he added
In all district collectorates emergency operation centres have been set up; the toll-free number is 1077. “Government needs financial support to reconstruct roads, bridges and houses. It needs
aid to help those who have lost their corps and agri land,” he said.
Meanwhile, more contributions were made to M the chief minister’s disaster relief fund (CMDRF). TVS Motors donated Rs 1 crore, CPI donated Rs 10 lakh and United Nurses Association announced Rs 11 lakh. Actor Mohanlal will hand over Rs 25 lakh to the chief minister on Tuesday. Mammootty and Dulquer Salman together donated Rs 25 lakh to the Ernakulam district collector.
Health minister KK Shailaja and minister for ports Kadannappally Ramachandran donated a month’s salary to CMDRF. KPCC president MM Hassan donated Rs 25,000 and urged party leaders and workers to donate to CMDRF. Muthoot group chairman MG George Muthoot handed over Rs 1.5 crore to Pinarayi Vijayan. VACB employees decided to contribute a day’s salary to the relief fund. Southern Railways (Thiruvananthapuram division) staff will contribute a day’s salary to CMDRF.
