Centre will be generous in assisting Sikkim get back on its feet: Chidambaram

GANGTOK, 22 Sept: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has assured that Sikkim will not want for funds in its rebuilding exercise. In a statement on his daylong Sikkim-visit today, Mr. Chidambaram, while extending his deep sympathies to the government and the people of Sikkim, highlighted that the earthquake toll is “relatively very high even if the number looks small as a proportion of the population, it’s a high number”. On latest count, 75 lives have been lost to the earthquake and extensive damage suffered by infrastructure and private and public property.
“I wish to begin by conveying my deepest sympathies to the people of Sikkim and to assure them that in this hour of grief, the entire people of India stand with the people of Sikkim,” he said.

The Home Minister also put on record that his Sikkim visit was to assure the Chief Minister, the people and the Government of Sikkim that that the Central Government  “will do everything possible to restore normal life in Sikkim”.
An assessment has been made of the financial requirements, he informed, while adding that the State has enough cash for immediate expenses. The GoI yesterday released the second instalment of the Central share of the State Disaster Relief Fund as an advance, he informed. Reiterating that there was enough cash balance in the State, he added that with the approval of the Prime Minister, and additional Rs. 50 crore was released to the State Government to ensure that relief work was not affected because of lack of cash resources.
As for long term rehabilitation, the Home Minister informed that the State Government was assessing the damage and said that even as the State prepared its report, a Central team was also being deputed to make an assessment.
“So, we’ll have two assessments ready and once the two assessments are ready a short term, medium to long term rehabilitation scheme will be drawn up and under the Disaster Management Programme money will be provided to the state to do rehabilitation and long term restoration and rehabilitation work,” he informed.
“So no need of any apprehensions that money will not be available. Money is available and I have instructed the Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary and the Relief Commissioner to continue to spend the money on immediate relief and restoration works,” he assured.
He also announced today that the State need not worry about bearing the cost of air-lifting. “We are not even asking the state to bear those expenses,” he said.
He further informed that the Prime Minister was very keen to visit Sikkim on Friday, but has been advised to do so later, once the relief teams had reached all places.
The Prime Minister has hence proceeded for Washington and will be visiting Sikkim immediately on his return, the Home Minister informed.
“In the meanwhile the damage assessment would have been done and I am sure the Prime Minister will make any further announcement that has to be made. But we will be very generous in assisting Sikkim to get back on its feet and the state return to normalcy,” he reiterated.
After landing in Gangtok, the Home Minister visited the STNM Hospital and inspected the hospital premises before proceeding to the Raj Bhavan to call on the Governor.
“The people of Sikkim are very hardy and strong people and I am sure working together we will get Sikkim back on its feet,” he concluded.