CII 'Task Force' to assist flood victims in Bihar

Patna, Sep 5: Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has set up a 'Special Task Force' to assist Bhiar administration in its massive relief and rehabilitation work for millions of flood victims in northern parts of the state.

Set up under the leadership of CII Eastern Regional Chairman Sandipan Chakraborty, the six-member 'Task Force' comprising senior CII members of Eastern India, met state Minister of Disaster Management Nitish Mishra along with state Development Commissioner S.

Vijayraghaban and Principal Secretary, Disaster Management Department, Raj Kumar Singh here yesterday to chalk out a detailed 'action plan'.

Speaking to newspersons after the meeting, Mr Chakraborty said they had already appealed to all major industrial houses throughout the country for making 'generous contribution' both in terms of money and relief material for the victims of unprecedented natural calamity in Bihar.

Accordingly, Mr Chakraborty said the Task Force would collect large amount of drinking water bottles, storage tanks, utensils, bed sheets, sarees, dhotis, baby food, milk powder and biscuits within the next couple of days for immediate distribution among hundreds of relief camps and to thousands of their inmates in various parts of the affected zone.

CII was also mobilising medicines as per requirement provided by state Health Secretary Vivek Singh and engaged the National Committee on Life Sciences (Pharma and Biotech) for the same.

A number of medical and health care teams were also being despatched to set up health camps in the flood affected areas.

Besides, Mr Chakraborty informed that CII members were contributing directly to the flood victims and said ITC had already started distributing food and other relief material in the flood-affected areas.

Employees of Tata Steel had agreed to contribute their one-day salary towards Bihar Flood Relief Fund, he said, adding that they were also planning to construct a semi-permanent relief camp in Bihar.

Patton International Limited had been distributing water tanks in the relief camps while Coca Cola had started distributing drinking water bottles to the victims. SRF Limited was also sending tarpaulin sheets and fabricated tents from Trichy (Tamil Nadu), he said.

Save the Children, an NGO, had also come forward to set up a camp in the flood-affected area, while Kingfisher and Jet Lite would provide free airlifting of relief material from Kolkata to Patna.

''CII shares the plight of the flood victims and stands with them to overcome the present crisis,'' Mr Chakraborty reiterated.

UNI