Posted on 12/29/2004 9:44:38 AM PST by CarrotAndStick
INDIA has turned down foreign aid for victims of the tsunami that has killed tens of thousands of people across Asians, because it has "adequate resources", a government official said today.
India had been flooded with generous offers of aid, the official said.
"In fact, all friendly nations have offered help, but we feel we do have the resources to handle the situation," he said.
"If at a later stage we feel we need assistance we will not hesitate to ask.
"Right now we not only have adequate resources but have gone out and mounted a huge relief effort for Sri Lanka and Maldives. We could not have done this if we were facing a problem in Indian relief operations."
The Indian Government said it had sent warships, helicopters and aircraft to distribute food, medicines and blankets to neighbouring Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and had promised more than over $US23 million ($30m) in monetary aid.
The official noted that India had not taken up the offers of help because Sunday's disaster was not of the same magnitude for India as an earthquake that struck the western state of Gujarat in January 2001, killing 20,000 people.
"This disaster is just not of the same scale or magnitude of the Gujarat earthquake," he said.
"In comparison to the Gujarat earthquake we have the resources to handle the situation at this juncture."
India's government and UN and local aid agencies have begun distributing survival packs to at least 160,000 people left homeless along the mainland coast, with demand expected to grow for food, water and shelter.
S Rajagopalan
Washington, December 29, 2004|22:39 IST
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President George W Bush has announced the formation of an international coalition with the US, India, Australia and Japan as its core members to coordinate worldwide relief and reconstruction efforts following the tsunami disaster.
Bush, after speaking with leaders of India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand on Wednesday, pledged a multifaceted response from the US going beyond the initial commitment of $ 35 million. He also asked Americans to generously contribute to the relief effort.
Taking exception to the "misguided" and "ill-informed" remarks of a UN official suggesting that the initial US response to the disaster was "stingy", Bush said the $ 35 million announcement was only the beginning of American help.
"We are committed to helping the affected countries in the difficult weeks and months that lie ahead," said Bush, who praised the leadership of India and other countries in tackling the calamity.
He also came out in support of efforts to create a truly international warning system that would serve all nations.
Earlier, stung by the "stingy" remark, the US pumped in an additional $ 20 million, raising its initial disaster aid package to $35 million. "We will do more. I wish that comment hadn't been made," a visibly irked secretary of state Colin Powell said.
In the meantime, the official in question -- UN humanitarian aid chief Jan Egeland -- denied branding the US "stingy". Clarifying his remarks, Egeland said he did not single out any country while stating that rich nations could be more generous in aiding the poor.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1175215,00050001.htm
Hey, they have billions from outsourcing jobs coming into India, let them fend for themselves...
I'll bet that we give them the money anyway. W has a way with spending our hard earned dollars.
If India would divert the money from their
nuclear program to help their own people, they
wouldn't need aid in the first place!
No aid for countries who screw their own people
and then have nothing left when disaster strikes.
By the way, India was not that affected compared to other places.
Well yeah, I suppose with a population of over a billion people, India will never really miss 10~20,000. They're just a drop in the bucket, so to speak.
But Sheeeesh, I never thought I'd hear a government official say it so bluntly.
What's blunt here? To me, the guy makes sense.
Which is exactly what they said.
In fact, the only ones being blunt on this post are the ones who have commented above.
Check my other posts. I am probably more American than you are. At least I think America first.
You have a problem with that?
Moreover, you have a problem with someone being anti-U.N.?
Err,India spends a lesser percentage of it'sGDP than Pakistan, China or even Thailand.& what exactly is the guarantee that money diverted from defense will be used for setting up relief system??it's never worked anywhere in the world.
Err,India spends a lesser percentage of it'sGDP than Pakistan, China or even Thailand.& what exactly is the guarantee that money diverted from defense will be used for setting up relief system??it's never worked anywhere in the world.
So, Bravo India; DO take care of yourselves! You do not need the help. Congrats on being self-sufficient.
I'm with you...bravo India! It's their problem and they're taking responsibility for it...I think that's the kind of thinking that should be encouraged all around the world. By countries and individuals.
He was being honest about the situation & if you noticed,he said India doesn't need foreign aid for the moment(& not forever) & if the situation arose,they would'nt mind asking.
Nothing blunt in that.Infact it won't make them look stupid if India does need foreign aid.
I say good for them, unlike many countries...
I think Bill Gates donated the money for AIDS research & rehabilitation & not as a blank cheque to the government of India.That money will be sent to various research institutions,hospitals & NGOs.
Besides,does anybody bother about the profits Microsoft makes from it's India operations & the huge sales they have there??That more than compensates for the aid given.
India is really a tale of two countries in which the poverty line practically slams into prosperity. Lots of educated, well-off folks, then you have beggars lining the streets of Delhi and Calcutta. And the cows walking around incoherently.
It's the caste system! Many of the poor are untouchables. We in the US cannot fathom that type of culture but it exists and has to be worked around.
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