Bhubaneswar: City Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena inaugurated Kerala Flood Relief Information Centre near Metro House at Vani Vihar Square here Wednesday.
It is an initiative of three associations representing Malayalees residing in Odisha with the support of local administration. The associations are: Kerala Kala Samiti-Bhubaneswar, All India Malayalee Association-Odisha Unit, and World Malayalee Council-Odisha Province.
The information centre will serve as a facilitation point for the people who would like to donate to Kerala flood relief. A vehicle will go around the city highlighting the plight of the flood victims to create public awareness.
While addressing the gathering, Jena said, “The loss caused to Kerala and its people is huge and it will take a lot of efforts and resources to rebuild the state to its normal shape.”
On the occasion, he recalled Odisha Super Cyclone 1999 and the difficulties people had faced. He urged the people to help and support Kerala. Citing the quick and timely action taken by Odisha government, Jena assured necessary support and assistance in mobilising donations to CM Distress Relief Fund for Kerala.
He applauded the efforts being taken by the Malayalees of Odisha in this difficult time to their families and friends back home.
Chairman of World Malayalee Coucil-Odisha Province, Benjamin Simon said, “Many organisations are working to help our fellow brothers and sisters to save them from distress. In the process, the Malayalee communities in Odisha under the umbrella of World Malayalee Council (WMC), All India Malayalee Association and Kerala Kala Samiti, Bhubaneswar, has also taken the cause in a big way to reaching the people to help in whatever way possible.”
Kerala Flood Relief Information Centre is a place for providing proper assistance to the people willing to make donations and looking for authentic channels, he said. The centre would also function as a contact point for the local people whose relatives are stranded in Kerala due to floods, he added.
N Radhakrishnan, Secretary, Kerala Kala Samiti, said, “All those who come forward to help us are our Gods. I have nothing more to say … please help us, help us and help us.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar, Anup Sahu, and several dignitaries and office bearers of Malayalee associations and organisations were present at the opening of the centre.
KIMS gesture to flood-hit
Bhubaneswar: Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIIMS) has extended its support to the flood affected people in Kerala by sending a 25-member team Wednesday.
As the water level of rivers is receding, fear of outbreak of diseases is looming large. The team will render health services to the flood victims in Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Thrissur and Kottayam districts. The medical team will stay there for one month.
KIMS has sanctioned Rs 10 lakh for this endeavour. Besides, BJD MP Achyuta Samanta, who is also the founder of KIIT & KISS, has donated Rs 2 lakh from his salary for medicine and other health kits. Raja Ramana of KIIT is the convener of this team. All the members of the team are doctors at KIMS.
All of them belong to Kerala and Tamil Nadu. On the occasion Samanta appreciated the enthusiasm of the medicos for their service. Besides, many KIIT alumni are also engaged in rescue and relief work in Kerala.
