 | | PICTURE SPEAK | |  | | Foreign aid worth Rs 2,939.85 crore* was availed by the centre. Of this, only Rs 249.88 crore has been disbursed as of June 20 06. The balance Rs 2,689.97 crore is parked with the centre. | | It is the saga of callous and pathetic implementation of relief work and rehabilitation of the tsunami-affected. The tsunami that hit the Indian coastline on the morning of December 26, 2004, swept away 1,089 villages, claimed over 10,273 lives and rendered 2,39,024 families homeless. By all accounts, it was the biggest natural calamity to hit India. You would expect the Central Government and the states to pull their might to provide not just immediate relief but also long-term rehabilitation to those affected. Typically though, as the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) released to Parliament this month reveals, the relief and reconstruction operations are marked by a combination of political indifference and bureaucratic inefficiency. And it's not just one state. A week after the tsunami, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, apparently moved by the plight of the affected had declared: "We will do everything possible for you. I have come from Delhi to lend my support to you." The sentiments unfortunately have not translated into action. Neither at the Centre nor at the state levels. Recall the war of words between the Centre and the then Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa. She had accused the Centre of denying funds. The truth, however, is bitter. Tamil Nadu had asked for Rs 4,805.82 crore and was sanctioned Rs 2,347.19 crore. Of the Rs 820.31 crore released, only Rs 597.67 crore was spent. | | | |  States demand: Rs 11,796.40 crore Centre recommends: Rs 5,690.81 crore Home Ministry sanctions: Rs 3,644.05 crore Planning Commission given: Rs 1,607.01 crore States got: Rs 1,759.05 crore Funds utilised: Rs 1,074.98 crore States spent less than 10 per cent of the money originally demanded Worse, Rs 228.58 crore was misutilised or diverted | | It's not just Tamil Nadu. The four states and Andaman and Nicobar Islands had asked for Rs 11,796 crore for relief works. The Centre sanctioned Rs 3,644.05 crore, of which Rs 1,607.01 crore was earmarked for long-term reconstruction by the Planning Commission. Of the Rs 1,759.05 crore actually released by the Centre, only Rs 1,074.98 crore was utilised. The states could use less than 10 per cent of the sum they originally had demanded. Worse, Rs 228.58 crore was misutilised. Today, none of the states (or for that matter the NGOs) are anywhere near fulfilling promises of rehabilitation (see chart). Neither are systems-be it the emergency response systems and disaster relief procurement contracts-suggested by the Sharad Pawar Committee in place yet. If there is any semblance of normalcy, it is because of the work done by civil society. Despite the fact that since 1999 the country has been hit by a calamity almost every year, there is little evidence of commitment to set up disaster relief and rehabilitation systems. The UPA regime, with its penchant for committees and commissions, may see this as an opportunity to appoint one when what is needed is a serious crack of the whip. The CAG report could be the first step in getting it right. Finally.
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