10 May 2002

HINDUSTAN TIMES STARTS RELIEF FUND FOR GUJARAT VICTIMS

From Jal Khambata

NEW DELHI: The Hindustan Times becomes the first national daily to start a relief fund for the victims of the communal carnage in Gujarat though ten weeks late unlike earlier when newspapers used to compete in raising funds the moment any natural or manmade calamity hits the people in any part of the country.

It announced on Friday that "The Hindustan Times Group has set up a fund for the riot victims with an initial contribution of Rs 3 lakh." The announcement also said: "We are the first media organisation to take such an initiative and invite individuals, corporate houses or any other group to donate generously to the fund."

Though the daily claimed to be the first media organisation to raise funds for the Gujarat victims, the first newspaper outside Gujarat to raise funds is the leftist daily "Ganashakti" from Calcutta. It too started raising money, however, only after the violence was past more than a month.

In an appeal to readers, the Hindustan Times announcement said: "The government is helping, but this needs to be supplemented with private initiative to bring succour to the victims."

It points out: "For the past two-and-a-half months, Gujarat has been ravaged by communal violence. Lives have been lost, children orphaned, women widowed and homes destroyed. The victims have cried out for help."

Recalling how it had earlier sought donations for families of martyrs of Kargil and after devastation of Gujarat earthquake and Orissa cyclone, the announcement said: "The use of the riot relief funds will be decided by HT in consultation with a panel comprising former Chief Justice of India P N Bhagwati, Dr (Mrs) Vimla Ramalingam, Secretary General, Indian Red Cross Society, and Vir Sanghvi, Editor, Hindustan Times."

Contributions to this fund are entitled to the prescribed exemptions under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act and contributions above Rs 1,000 will be acknowledged in the HT, the announcement added. END