Monday, September 19 2005 15:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kayamkulam: Seeking a long-term rehabilitation plan for those affected by natural calamities, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today (sept 19, 2005) expressed happiness at the tsunami relief and rehabilitation projects launched in the country.

He was speaking at a function after handing over 50 houses built by the 'Malayala Manorama' daily for the tsunami affected families at nearby Tharayilkadavu in Alapuzha district of Kerala.

"I am personally very keen to see that a long term rehabilitation plan is put in place to take care of the needs of the affected people, especially in terms of providing education and support to the orphaned children of the tsunami affected," he said.

The tsunami tragedy has once again highlighted the reality that it is the underdeveloped areas which are prone to maximum devastation and it is the poor and weaker sections that are vulnerable to misery and suffering. "The lesson to be learnt is that overcoming under development and poverty alleviation need to be accorded the highest priority in the Nation's agenda of administration," he said.

Shekhawat said 'poverty alleviation and welfare of the common man' was the fifth pillar of democracy and urged people to work hard to strengthen this pillar. "The challenge before us is to work hard with urgency to strengthen this pillar. Otherwise the whole edifice of democracy would face the risk of collapse."

Stressing the need to strengthen 'our moral fibre', he said, "we need to re-imbibe' the traditional values of honesty, integrity, compassion, care and cooperation and promote secular values. Many of the present day ills was due to the decline in our value system and loss of character."

"We once again need to establish our conduct based on truth and non-violence, peace and harmony. We need to promote secular values based on the principles of Unity in Diversity that would promote social cohesiveness and re-establish the paradigm of Indian ethos, enshrined in our ancient maxim of 'Vasuthaivu Kuttumbakam'," he said.

The significant progress and development India has made since Independence would be "fragile and unsustainable" if it was not inclusive of the welfare of the 26 crore people living in extreme poverty, the Vice President said.

The provisions in the Right to Information Act should be effectively used to disseminate and share with all concerned information regarding coverage of beneficiaries and details of expenditure incurred under various schemes along with publication of audit report on such expenditure.

Malayala Manorama Managing Editor, Philip Mathew, handed over a symbolic key to the Vice President who in turn handed it over to the state Revenue minister, K M Mani to signify the handing over of the houses to the affected families.