Wednesday, May 4 2005 13:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government is considering the feasibility of enacting legislation and issuing guidelines to regulate collection and utilisation of funds raised for natural calamities such as Tsunami, Home Minister Shivraj Patil told Rajya Sabha today (May 4, 2005).

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Patil said the matter has been examined in detail by the Law Commission, which has recommended such a legislation.

Patil said the Centre is considering its feasibility for regulating funds raised for the purpose of providing relief and rehabilitation to victims of natural and man-made disasters.

"There should be accountability of such funds," he said adding in general the unused money collected for such purposes is either given to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund or the Chief Minister's Fund.

Patil said the general impression of the public is that some private institutions or NGOs are not spending the entire money collected by them for the purpose of relief and rehabilitation.

These organisations are required to file their accounts or returns to appropriate authorities where these are registered, he said.

The Minister said in some cases the registration of some institutions, which have not provided details of the unused amount have been cancelled.

Patil said huge funds were collected to deal with the Tsunami disaster.