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INDIA HAS REJECTED an offer by the United Arab Emirates government to give $100 million to a special fund for Kerala state after its floods which killed more than 400 people.
The move came despite calls to accept the Gulf state’s largesse by Kerala’s chief minister who has pleaded for more aid than India’s government has so far committed to.
“In line with the existing policy, the government is committed to meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts,” the foreign ministry said in a statement explaining the move.
The ministry added that foreign money could only be donated through Indian-origin individuals or foundations.
India has a record of refusing foreign aid after disasters, turning down foreign help after the 2004 tsunami.
Experts said Indian governments want to prove they can handle any emergency by themselves.
India did not specifically mention the UAE offer made, saying only that it “deeply appreciates offers from several countries, including from foreign governments, to assist in relief and rehabilitation efforts after the tragic floods”.
The Maldives government had also promised money for the floods.
But the refusal is likely to spark a political controversy.
Kerala state chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan called for “high level” talks with the national government so the UAE money could be accepted.
The UAE offer is more than the $97 million so far promised by India’s central government. Vijayan has asked for a $375 million package from the government, saying the state must confront more than $3 billion in devastation.
Relief camps
The monsoon floods have left more than 420 dead since June with some 1.34 million people now in over 3300 relief camps across the state.
“The whole world is extending a helping hand towards the State at this juncture,” Vijayan added, citing distress contributions from across the country — and exhorting New Delhi’s further assistance.
A Kerala government spokesman told AFP that all rescue operations had been completed and now the focus was on giving immediate relief and future planning.
Thousands of army, navy and air force personnel fanned out across the state to help those stranded in remote and hilly areas.
Dozens of helicopters and even drones have dropped food, medicine and water to cut-off villages in the last few days.
Tens of thousands of people across the state are still relying on community kitchens for meals.
The government says that more than 10,000 kilometres (6,000 miles) of roads have been destroyed or damaged while a legislator said 50,000 houses had been wiped out.
There have been many reports of snake bites and reptile sightings, even a crocodile, inside people’s mud filled homes after the waters drained out.
Snake catchers, experts and animal rescue teams have been busy responding to distress calls to catch and safely release these reptiles as people slowly returned to their homes in the last 48-hours.
The floods have also hit tourism sector in India’s tourist hotspot otherwise known for its pristine beaches and backwaters.
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I drive a taxi and for many reasons I don’t belive it’s a job for a woman. I would hate to see my wife or daughter drive a taxi. And before I’m bashed I am not sexest
You clearly are a sexist if you believe women are too weak to drive a taxi. You didn’t say they were weak but that is clearly what you are inferring
Implying, damn it.
No Philip I’m not ! But keep trying
Ah I see your Twitter has been suspended Philip Hogan bit of a troll are you hiding behind false names !
Just curious, what exactly are you saying?
OK Mr Weddingcar, why shouldn’t women drive taxis?
Because of the Philip Hogans off this world !!
That doesn’t even make sense. You don’t think your wife and daughter are capable of driving a taxi. Is it any wonder that feminism is so aggressive when your misogyny is so engrained
Are you busy tonight, weddingcar?
I dunno. All the other car jackings had male taxi drivers. Is the experience less terrifying as a man? I wouldn’t say so.
I wouldn’t think it would be either. If they take the car and let you go unharmed it’s the only good thing to come out of a car jacking.
Why I wouldn’t like my wife etc driving is because you are dealing with people at their worst late at night drunk or worse on drugs. It’s hard enough without having guys trying it on or been intimidating which would and does happen with female drivers.
Day time work wouldn’t be to bad but nights would be a disaster waiting to happen.
what do you mean it’s not a job for a woman? you didn’t really say why :L
So what you ate saying is that you would rather see women treated like glass, always kept away from danger. Give them a bit more credit. They might surprise you
James and Philip grow up !
but…i was asking a legit question. im not trying to be mean or cheeky
He is concentrating on his new big job in Europe from now on…
I’ve never seen one female taxi driver working at night. It’s common sense really.
Daniel there is many
Would you suggest that women don’t work as police or in A&E then? They’d be facing the exact same people. What I’d suggest is taxis that have a partition between the driver at the front and the passenger at the back. You’d have to have fairly thick skin to be a taxi driver, so why shouldn’t a woman be a taxi driver if they’re as thick skinned as the male taxi drivers?
Guys stop trying to prove Wexford limo a sexiest . what he is saying is very true. After a wild night out, most of the time Drank man make trouble at the street…you wont see many woman making trouble at night while they are drank. an drank man has a common issue to harass women. so in a Saturday night, when lots of drank wild mans are in the street, who will not bother about law and order or maybe not in a state of thinking clearly would probably find a woman taxi driver more easy rather than a Man driver. Its just a fact.
@Danny. Your a&e remark just makes no sense. In relation to female gardai, at night time gardai have to work in pairs. The also carry pepper spray, something which taxi drivers are not allowed have.
If working at night was the same as day they wouldn’t have the pairing system.
That young pup deserves the mother and father of a bating when caught..
Wow must admire her bravery for refusing to hand over the keys. May not always have worked out so well. But she definitely showed that chap there’s no messing with her.
I admire her bravery but it was a silly thing to do
This type of crime is going on a weekly basis in dublin. Noting new here
Women taxmen are not that uncommon now.
Women taximen are not that uncommon now.
Bit of an echo here ;)
Here.
Women taxi men maybe even women taxi drivers
Why make a point of the taxi driver’s gender? Is it relevant?
Yes
How?
Fair play for standing her ground. Little cowardly asswipe.
Wow a female taxi driver. It is so amazing that it must be put in the headline
When i saw the title. I new it was up north
Brendan ere you implying that such acts don’t happen south of the border???
Shouldn’t have made any difference if the driver was a man or woman it shouldn’t be happening , why can’t a judge make a statement and send the next attacker down for at least 5 years and this might stop it ?
but unfortunately it is always the case. weaker taxi driver are the easy target.
have your say