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Gujarat's need of the hour: 75,000 tents

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Concerned over the shortage of tents in Gujarat, the Army has been asked whether its old parachutes will help in the construction of tents for the earthquake-hit people of Gujarat.

Briefing reporters after the fourth meeting of the empowered group of ministers, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj said some 15,000 tents were being provided by a French NGO. Another 15,000 were being provided by the International Red Cross while the Gujarat government had bought 10,000 tents from the open market and hired 38,000 more. Over and above this, a provision for 75,000 tents would help remedy the situation to a great extent, she pointed out.

Swaraj said Home Minister L K Advani and she had just returned from Gujarat, where Advani had directed the administration to immediately procure indigenous facilities that are not available.

She also pointed out that the ministry of textiles had approved a scheme for Rs 4.25 crore to provide succour to 2500 weavers under the Deendayal Haathkardha Protsahan Yojana. Under the scheme, each weaver will be given Rs 10,000 as working capital and rs 7000 for loom and other accessories.

Swaraj also said the Gujarat government had told the group of empowered ministers that it has constituted a working group for relief and rehabilitation measures, which has already commenced work.

A significant step initiated by Swaraj herself in Gujarat relates to providing aftercare to the quake-hit children in the state. Swaraj said the Children's Film Society Of india would screen films for them which portray the message of courage so as to inspire the trauma-hit.

The Complete Coverage | List of earthquake sites

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