An all-party meeting convened here yesterday by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has promised total support to the reconstruction effort and the rehabilitation of the flood-affected.

The Chief Minister told the meeting that the state government would demand a special package from the Centre for rehabilitation and reconstruction.

SPECIAL PACKAGE

Learning from the fine example set by the fish workers, the government said it proposed to train fish workers and groom them as volunteers to handle such exigencies.

Steps to include them in the coastal police force were in its final stages. According to the Chief Minister, engineering students, too, would be included in the rehabilitation and reconstruction activities.

Instead of directly distributing assistance in relief camps, it should be given to the officers in-charge. There were no law and order issues in the camps and, hence, relief work need not be conducted within. Instead, committees comprising camp inmates and officials holding charge, would be set up. Police presence, including women officials, would be ensured in relief camps, the Chief Minister said.

Visitors should ideally meet inmates outside the camps. All political parties should be given directions to avoid flags, badges, emblems and such symbols while working in the camps.

Police patrolling would be intensified to prevent thefts in houses that remain vacant following the floods. Transportation would be provided to sick inmates for hospitalisation.

Those who had lost their houses could continue to stay in the camps. Alternative arrangements would be made, since schools could not be used for long.

UAE FUNDS ISSUE

Meanwhile, the Centre has not taken a decision with respect to the offer from the United Arab Emirates of making available assistance to the tune of Rs 700 crore for the flood-affected in Kerala.

Reports from Delhi said the modalities of accepting foreign aid are being revisited, after the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi made known the offer through an intermediary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As if on cue, the Centre announced yesterday that it had made available the Rs 600 crore to Kerala as interim relief (Rs 500 crore announced by the Prime Minister and Rs 100 crore by the Home Minister).