Insurance scheme for tsunami victims in Kerala

Kochi, Aug 25 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Planning M V Rajasekharan today inaugurated a Health-Cum-Accident Insurance Scheme for tsunami-impacted families, launched by the Kerala Government by utilizing the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

While handing over the first policy document to State Education Minister M A Baby, the Union Minister stressed on the need of multi-sectoral partnership for disaster management.

The enormous and widespread loss and destruction caused by the December 2004 disaster had clearly shown that the government by itself could not handle disasters and the partnership of the civil society was essential to tackle them and the aftermath.

Lauding the Kerala Government for launching the insurance scheme, Mr Rajashekharan observed this would cover about 1.50 lakh families in nine coastal districts of Kerala.

The state Government had drawn up a comprehensive development plan costing Rs 1441.75 crore for reconstruction and rehabilitation of tsunami-hit coastal areas. This includes reconstruction of houses (Rs 325 crore), fisheries development (Rs 162 crore), port development (44 crore), roads (92 crore), water supply (Rs 132 crore), social infrastructure (Rs 146 crire), tourism (Rs 100 crore), power supply (Rs 73 crore) and protection of coastal areas (Rs 217 crore).

The Centre had sanctioned Rs 9,822 crore over four years for the rehabilitation of the tsunami-affected people. It had recently increased the quantum of assistance from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and National Contingency Relief Fund.

Mr Rajasekharan said the approach paper to the XI Five Year Plan stressed the need for suitable technologies and adherence to safety measures for disaster management.

Kerala Revenue Minister K P Rajendran said the government aimed at completing the reconstruction programme of the nine coastal districts by March 2009.

UNI