Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Government has sanctioned Rs 5 crore as its contribution towards the Kerala Chief Minister Relief Fund to help the people in the calamity-hit southern State. This was announced through a statement released on Thursday by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar also urged all employees of government departments and autonomous bodies to voluntarily contribute a day’s salary towards flood relief work in Kerala. “Goa stands in solidarity with the people of Kerala,” the CMO added.
Parrikar, who was in USA for health check up when the southern State was hit by its worst-ever calamity, arrived in Goa on Wednesday evening.
States across the country have been contributing towards the relief fund. From Goa too, several political parties and NGOs have sending relief material to Kerala.
All 16 Congress MLAs had earlier announced they would donate a month’s salary for the relief work in Kerala, where people are facing an uphill task to rebuild their lives with floods killing several hundreds and displacing lakhs.
Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar and Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar have also said they would donate their one-month salary towards the relief operations.
Kerala government has estimated a loss to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore due to the deluge.
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Contribute willingly, GGEA tells employees
Goa Government Employees Association (GGEA) on Thursday welcomed the announcement by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar that government employees and those working in autonomous bodies and corporations should donate one day’s salary towards the Kerala Relief Fund. “Many employees had been telephonically and otherwise requesting me to send a formal letter to the government for issue of a circular and I had been telling them that the State government will issue one on its own and thus we welcome the decision,” GGEA President John Nazareth said.
He added, “Whenever any natural calamity takes place in any part of the country, government employees and those working in autonomous bodies and corporations contribute one day’s salary towards the same.”
GGEA has requested all government employees and those working in autonomous bodies and corporations to contribute towards the cause willingly.
