Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 16: United States today pledged USD 250,000 as relief and other help to flood ravaged J&K, whereas Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Ministry of Steel and Mines have donated Rs 15 crore to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. Even Himachal Pradesh and Tripura Governments have announced Rs 1 crore each.
Charge d’Affaires Ambassador Kathleen Stephens announced that the US intends to provide USD 250,000 to select NGOs through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in response to the needs of the people affected by the disaster.
Meanwhile, Minister for Mines, Steel, Labour and Employment Narendra Singh Tomar today handed over cheques worth Rs 15 crore for the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“This amount has been donated by public sector undertakings from the steel and mining sectors,” an official statement said. Steel PSUs have donated Rs 11 crore while mining PSUs have contributed Rs 4 crore to the fund, out of the total of Rs 15 crore.
The highest contribution (Rs 6 crore) to the fund has been made by the country’s top iron ore miner NMDC, followed by Rs 3 crore by domestic steel giant SAIL. Two other steel PSUs–RINL and MOIL have contributed Rs 1 crore each while the remaining Rs 4 crore have been donated by mining sector PSUs.
Minister of State for Mines, Steel, Labour and Employment Vishnudeo Sai and senior officials of the ministry were also present on the occasion.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has sent a cheque of Rs one crore on behalf of the people and Government of Himachal Pradesh.
Singh said that the State Government would extend its full cooperation and support to the Jammu and Kashmir Government in this hour of distress and crisis, the statement added.
Tripura Government has announced to donate Rs 1 crore towards the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the flood victims of J&K. Information Minister Bhanu Lal Saha stated that council of Ministers meeting has taken the decision.
The government has also appealed to the people of the state to donate individually or group to the distress people of J&K.
Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) today sent medicines to flood-affected areas in Jammu and Kashmir.
SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar said a team of specialist doctors have also been flown to the State. He said SGPC has organised a medical camp at Gurudwara Bunga Badhgam in Srinagar. SGPC is also sending food materials, cooked food and other essential items every day.
JMM today sent 5,000 blankets to the flood-affected people of J&K. Party Supremo Shibu Soren flagged off the truck carrying the blankets. He said the party with its limited resources would make more efforts to assist the distressed people of Jammu and Kashmir.
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