Srikant Kumar Jena calls MPs to contribute for relief and rehabilitation in Phailin affected areas

Union Minister of State (I/C) for Statistics & Programme Implementation and Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Srikant Kumar Jena has called upon the Members of Parliament to contribute up to Rs 50 lakh from their MPLAD funds for rehabilitation works in cyclone Phailin affected areas of Odisha. Addressing media persons in New Delhi today, he said, the recent notification by the Home Ministry declaring the Odisha cyclone as calamity of ‘severe nature’ enables Members of Parliament to make such a contribution. He said, he had met the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Finance Minister and appraised them about the grave situation in many parts of Odisha, which have shattered the lives of people, caused widespread destruction of crops, dwelling units and damaged properties of permanent nature in many parts of Odisha, particularly in Balasore, Ganjam and Mayurbhanj Districts. 

Shri Jena told that he had personally requested the Prime Minister to sanction adequate Central Fund and expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister on announcement of an interim assistance earlier for Rs 1000 crore for Odisha for relief and rehabilitation work and 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 Minister’s National Relief Fund. 

Shri Jena informed that based on his briefings on the devastation caused by the Cyclone and subsequent floods to the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Finance Minister, Department of Public Enterprises have also issued a notification, whereby the relief and rehabilitation projects undertaken by CPSEs in cyclone affected areas during 2013-14 would be treated as the projects in the backward region. Further, the limit of 5-10% of annual budget of CSR and sustainability activities earmarked for natural calamities/disaster has also been relaxed and the CPSEs may decide on higher spending. He told that he had written letters to various Ministries to sensitize CPSEs under their administrative control to voluntarily contribute funds under CSR scheme for rebuilding the infrastructure in Odisha.