NEWSLINKS
Y2K BIZ FEATURES
INDIA & THE W.T.O.
NEW GOVERNMENT
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
COMMENTARY
CREDIT POLICY
BUDGET 1999-2000
USEFUL INFO
ARCHIVES
SEARCH REDIFF

PM's plea to businessmen for drought relief

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Saturday appealed to businessmen for money to help some 50 million people reeling under the unprecedented drought affecting the country.

"All of you are aware that in four major states of the country, millions of people are affected by severe drought and shortage of water," Vajpayee told a business conference here. "I have already made an appeal to the nation to contribute to the efforts of the government. I hope that leaders of the corporate world will join this endeavour."

Vajpayee also told the business conference the federal aid package of Rs 9.5 billion offered so far in drought relief for the worst-hit states was not enough to tackle the spreading crisis.

"Given the severity of the drought and the large number of people that need to be provided with food and water, these funds are not enough," Vajpayee said.

"You can help meet the shortage by contributing money, no matter how small the amount, to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund," Vajpayee said.

More than 50 million people in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra states have been affected by the drought.

Some 20 million people in Rajasthan have been hit by the drought, and another 30 million are suffering in neighbouring Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh states, as well as in the eastern state of Orissa and southern Andhra Pradesh.