New Delhi, May 1
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today announced a Rs 150-crore rehabilitation package for the victims of Gujarat riots and promised that his government would ensure that the package was implemented within four months.

Intervening in the debate on the Opposition-sponsored censure motion on Gujarat, Mr Vajpayee said to enhance the vital need for immediate revival of normal economic activities in the violence-hit areas was now a primary national task.

The Prime Minister informed the House that the Cabinet Secretariat had been asked to monitor the work of implementation on a weekly basis. The package would be fully supplemented by loans and assistance from banks and financial institutions on liberal and concessional terms as were extended following the quake.

Mr Vajpayee assured that convergence of employment and welfare schemes like the Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana and Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana would be promoted where necessary by suitably augmenting the provisions under them.

The Prime Minister promised that no one affected by the communal riots would be left out of this relief and rehabilitation package which was in addition to a comprehensive relief package announced by him when he visited Ahmedabad on April 4.

Besides, Central Government bodies like the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) and National Housing Bank would be roped in for building and reconstruction of houses and shops.

Financial institutions too would be asked to catalyse industrial and economic activities in the riot-torn state while the National Minorities Finance and Development Corporation would be enabled to play a supportive role.

The package would include assistance for reconstruction and repair of damaged houses and shops — both in rural and urban areas — and for self-employed categories who lost their earning assets and financial support for recommencing business, commercial and industrial activities.