Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said here on Friday that he would discuss the technicalities involved in accepting aid from foreign countries, including the United Arab Emirates, towards flood relief operations in the State with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He was talking to reporters after holding a review meeting of the relief works here. Mr. Athawale said the Union government and the entire country were with the State in its hour of need without any political considerations or discrimination.
He said ₹25 lakh would be contributed from his MP Local Areas Development Fund towards flood relief works in Kerala.
The Minister urged the corporate world to contribute generously towards the State’s flood relief operations in the State.
Mr. Athawale said corporate majors should adopt devastated villages and help them recover. He said he would discuss the matter with industrialists.
The Minister visited the worst-affected places in Aluva, Kalamassery and Paravur besides relief camps in Ernakulam district. Mr. Athawale, who visited the flood-affected places in Malappuram the previous day, had pledged his two months’ salary towards relief works.
District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla and department officials attended the meeting.
