CPM slams inadequate relief measures

PUDUCHERRY: Will pop corn be sufficient to satiate an elephant’s hunger? (Yaanae pasikku chola pori). This is how CPM Tamil Nadu state secretary G Ramakrishnan chose to describe the inadequate relief measures announced by the government for the cyclone affected people. He was talking to reporters, on Thursday, after visiting Cyclone Thane-affected Veerampattinam and meeting the people who suffered heavy damage during its strike.  Saying the people, especially fishermen, had suffered heavy damage, he wondered whether the government had taken all the losses into consideration before declaring the relief amount, which was a pittance when compared to the magnitude of the damage. He questioned whether the relief amount was enough even to repair the damages to the boats, nets and huts.Ramakrishnan said both Central and state governments should come forward to provide more relief assistance and increase the solatium amount and urged that priority should be given for the restoration of electricity lines. The CPM leaders visited Kanagachettikulam, Kalapet, Kotakuppam (Tamil Nadu) before visiting Veerampattinam.The CPM leader was accompanied by T K Rangarajan, MP, Tamil Nadu state council member T Murugan and Puducherry state unit secretary V Perumal.