Ram Naik to preside over Help Centre for blast victims

Mumbai, July 16 (UNI) BJP has opened a Help Centre at Mumbai north to provide medical aid to those injured in the bomb blasts that rocked the city on July 11 and guide the families of the victims in fulfilling compensation and other legal formalities, a party leader today announced.

Ram Naik, former Minister of State for Railways will be the President of the centre, Mumbai North BJP chief J B Thakur said in a press note.

''The blast victims and their families are already shaken by the tragedy. Under the present circumstances, railway administration should forego their usual practice of handing over financial assistance from their head office at Churchgate. Instead the ex-gratia of Rs five lakh should be delivered to their families at their homes,'' suggested Mr Naik suggested.

He further demanded that the formalities for settling railway insurance claims should be made easier. As most of the families of the victims reside between Jogeshwari and Virar, instead of they going upto Fort in south Mumbai, the camp offices of the Tribunal be temporarily set up at Borivili and Virar, he said.

Mr Naik recalled the Railway minister's promise to bear the medical expenses of the blast victims. '' Many of them were taken to private hospital and discharged thereafter. Everyone is aware of the usual practice of private hospitals of discharging patients only after the receipt of the payments,'' he said.

''Hence the government must ensure that the bills are paid back to those who are already discharged and should issue directions to the victims who are presently undergoing treatments at private hospitals.'' Besides providing medical aid, the BJP Help Centre will guide in fulfilling compensation and other legal formalities. Mr Naik will be joined by other BJP leaders.

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