RIYADH, 16 February — A total of 10 million rupees, including a donation of $100,000 (4.5 million rupees) from Prince Talal ibn Abdul Aziz, has been collected for the victims of the Gujarat earthquake.
These figures were released at a press conference held here today by India's Ambassador Talmiz Ahmad, who said the Kingdom's leaders had, through their initiative, inspired others in coming forward with donations for the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. Zikr-ur-Rehman, first secretary at the Indian Embassy, was also present.
The ambassador said the embassy had opened an account with Saudi Hollandi Bank to facilitate direct deposits into the relief fund. Donations were also being collected by India's consulate-general in Jeddah and seven International Indian schools in the Kingdom, besides those coming from Saudi philanthropists. There are 1.5 million Indian expatriates in the Kingdom.
In addition to voluntary donations, Indian schools and cultural organizations had also collected a total of 65 tons of relief aid in kind. This was being airlifted free of charge by Saudi Arabian Airlines, Air India, Oman Air and DHL. "All this is an affirmation of warm ties and proves time-tested friendship between India and Saudi Arabia,"Ambassador Ahmad said.
Asked to comment on reports that some extremist Hindus organizations were discriminating against Muslims in the distribution of relief aid, the ambassador said: "I have read those reports and I have looked into them carefully. I would classify such episodes as aberrations. I do not believe that they represent the normal, acceptable Indian conduct."
He continued: "The people of India are committed to the values of mutual support and mutual tolerance. For every such report that has been highlighted by the media, there are also reports of people cutting across communal, linguistic, caste and sub-regional lines to help each other. Obviously, such stories do not get the prominence that a negative story does."
However, members of the Indian community contacted by Arab News said lack of confidence in the Gujarat government and reported misuse of donations has resulted in the funds being channeled through NGOs. This is the reason for the lukewarm response of the community to the Indian missions' appeal.
In reply to a question on the state government's requirements, the ambassador mentioned Rs.150 billion (SR=Rs. 12.10) as the amount needed for pushing through relief and rehabilitation programs. The Gujarat government was in urgent need of tents, blankets and syringes to vaccinate the people against infectious diseases. However, these were changing needs and the priorities could change at a later stage, he added.
