My post on Assam floods got an Interesting response. It as a provocative post and seems to hit where it hurts. The guilt pangs have taken over. Let me respond to criticism by looking at the facts: 1. Floods occurred in Assam/Meghalaya in the 3rd week of September. In fact, they started in August with heavy rains followed by a cloud burst in September. The interim relief declared by the PM was only for the victims. The statement released by PMO says Before leaving for US, the prime minister has sanctioned an ex-gratia of Rs.2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs.50,000 each to the seriously injured persons from the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund,. No Interim Relief of Rs.1000 crores each as in the case of Vizag and Kashmir. Number of people dead in NE - 160 Number of villages submerged and people displaced - More than Kashmir and Vizag added together. Did PM conduct an aerial survey - No. After a lot of hue and cry by the CM of Assam and Meghalaya, Rijiju makes an aerial survey and briefs home minister. Sonowal makes another aerial survey and says The Assam government has not formally informed the Centre about the flood situation here. I had asked the chief secretary to inform the Prime Ministers office about the flood situation here. But the PM was in USA. The HM later says PM will be announcing a relief package on his return from US. Is that fair? Is that equal treatment? Is that the response needed of a disaster? On 1st October, The Home minister announces release of Rs.286 Crores of Central Share of the drought releif fund. It comes with its own tags - a share to be contributed by an impoverished state. Was it asked of Kashmir or Vizag? No. I can go on to greater specifics but then FB is not the place for that. The simple question that we have to ask is Have we treated Assam, Meghalaya, Kashmir and Vizag even handedly?. For me, the answer is a resounding NO.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 11:23:18 +0000
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