Friday, December 23 2005 17:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Thiruvananthapuram: As part of tsunami anniversary relief measures, Kerala's UDF Government today (Dec 23, 2005) announced eight new welfare schemes for the affected people including a dole of Rs 500 per month for women who lost their husbands and mentally and physically challenged persons in the tsunami-hit families in the state.

The state would also provide Rs 15,000 each as marriage assistance for girls in tsunami-affected families for a year, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters here.

Funds for the schemes, expected to entail an expenditure of Rs five crore, would be met from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

"The tsunami widows would get the dole for the next 10 years. The assistance for the physically and mentally challenged was also for one year but eligible persons in nine coastal districts would benefit from it," he said.

Other items in the package include setting up of a memorial at Alappad in Kollam district where 21 bodies were buried, creation of a community burial ground at another spot in the same panchayat where 23 were laid to rest after the tragedy, construction of a new block for Higher Secondary school in Valiazheekal in Alappuzha district.

The package also included setting up of a desalination plant at Edvanakkad in Ernakulam district, assistance to youth clubs under the Nehru Yuvak Kendras in nine districts for taking up activities like career guidance.