India says no to foreign aid

■ Centre declines all offers of aid from foreign nations ■ EVEN THE PREVIOUS UPA-2 government had declined foreign aid in 2013 when massive floods struck Uttarakhand.

New Delhi, Aug. 22: India is conveying to various foreign governments pledging financial assistance to flood-ravaged Kerala that it will not accept the help, official sources said on Wednesday.

A number of countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Maldives have announced assistance for flood relief operations in Kerala.

The sources said that while declining to accept the assistance, India is conveying its sincere appreciation to the foreign nations for their offers to help flood affected people in Kerala.

While the UAE has offered $100 million (around `700 crore) as financial assistance to Kerala, Qatar has pledged around `35 crore and Maldives has announced a donation of $50,000 (`35 lakh). The Kerala government is understood to be unhappy over the Centre’s decision not to accept donations from foreign governments for flood relief operations in the state.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said the state government would approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clear hurdles, if any, in receiving the flood relief aid offered to the state by the United Arab Emirates. In a tweet, Thailand’s Ambassador to India Chutintorn Sam Gongsakdi said Indian government has informed his country that it will not accept overseas donations for flood relief operations in Kerala.

Official sources said New Delhi is conveying to foreign governments that it was carrying out a comprehensive assessment of the damage caused by the floods in Kerala and is capable of meeting the requirements of the state on its own. “Informally informed with regret that GOI is not accepting overseas donations for Kerala flood relief. Our hearts are with you the people of Bharat,” the Thai envoy tweeted.

India has decided not to accept foreign aid for disaster relief. It should stick to this and not bow to the pressure of a $100 million (`700-crore) offer from the UAE. After declining relief aid for the tsunami, that affected millions along the Tamil Nadu and Kerala coasts, it would be pandering to sentiment if we were accepted a few offers now. When India boasts of being the world's sixth largest economy, ahead of France now, it will be a loss of face to accept aid even if it’s from the UAE, where 25 lakh Keralites live, and many have made a great contribution to building the Emirates. There are special ties, but not to the extent of taking $100 million aid.

If each Indian were to contribute, it should be possible to collect the `20,000-crore Kerala reconstruction cost. The universal route for everyone to pay will be through a cess on GST. If, say, one per cent of GST collections every month were marked for the national disaster relief fund, it might be possible for the entire nation to help. Since the 2004 tsunami, there have been at least six natural disasters — cyclonic storms and floods affecting several states — and India hasn’t accepted overseas aid for the humongous task of rehabilitation and reconstruction. India is seen as an aid-giver these days and the policy of not accepting foreign aid shouldn’t change. While there’s little need to politicise aid offers, it’s the task of rehabilitation that must be the nation’s mission now.