RELIEF FUND

[Guest guest]

Dear all members

We are all aware of the powerful tsunami that hit the southern and

eastern coast of India on Sunday. The major destruction and damage

that has been caused due to this primarily in the states of Tamil

Nadu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh is of a

vast magnitude. The assessment of damage and relief for the affected

persons is ongoing since the day of destruction.

 

Times Foundation would be following a two pronged approach:

 

1. Immediate Relief

 

To be provided to the affected persons to care for their basic needs

for survival. Individual and corporate donations as well as material

for addressing the immediate needs such as shelter, water, food,

blankets, medicine etc.

 

2. Rehabilitation Programme

 

A standard rehabilitation programme will have the long term

sustainable approach beyond survival and relief for housing,

sanitation, health, education and livelihoods to address the strategic

needs from the long term perspective. The implementation of said

programme will be through the NGO associates (about 25 organizations

are located near the affected areas) and other such organizations as

selected with regular monitoring and evaluation based on the

assessment of the need in the respective regions affected by Tsunami.

 

As in the past on such occasions, The Times of India Group has taken

the lead to rush assistance to the affected people by setting up

arelief fund the most recent example being the Gujarat Earthquake.

Weare committed to provide the assistance thus obtained to the target

group through organizations who would be working in these regions with

the affected communities. We are receiving and inviting detailed

proposals about the same from various organizations to provide an

impetus to their ongoing work.

 

We invite the involvement individuals and organisations to contribute

meaningfully and extend support to the cause of the affected persons.

Financial support is the most crucial need of the moment. To

contribute to this effort cheques may be send payable to 'Times

Foundation' at Mumbai - Times of India, Dr D N Road, Mumbai - 400001

 

Times Foundation Delhi - Times of India, 7 Bahadurshah Zafar Marg,

New Delhi - 110002.

Contributions can also be made through the www.timesofmoney.com site &

through www.remit2india.com.

 

A Government notification with respect to declaring the Tsunami a

national calamity and thereby extending the tax exemption to 100% is

expected to be released shortly.

 

For more information on the above please contact Madhura or Anuradha

at Bombay 022-56354376/4398/4345 Angela/ Sandhya or Saagar at Delhi

011-23302864/2856/2103 You may also visit www.timesfoundation.org

E-mails can be sent at timesfoundation

 

Umesh Sharma