The government of India's Tamil Nadu state is appealing for more relief aid from New Delhi and social organizations.

In a statement published in local newspapers Sunday, Chief Minister Jayalaithaa appealed to voluntary organizations to join in the efforts to rebuild the lives of the people affected by the Dec. 26 Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.

All organizations, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), voluntary organizations, public and private sector enterprises, national and international charity organizations and industrial houses, are welcome to join the rehabilitation efforts for the tsunami victims, the statement said.

"You can build permanent houses and provide infrastructure and livelihood support to the affected persons to enable them to restart their lives. You are also welcome to rebuild common facilities like schools, hospitals, health centers and the like," it added.

The statement also laid out two options for organizations to choose. The first option is to build houses for 50, 100, 200, 500 or 1000 families with the required infrastructural facilities and provide livelihood support to them on the land provided by the state government.

The other option is to participate in a different project of providing one or more specific items of infrastructure like schools, hospitals, primary health centers, community centers, communication centers, child welfare centers, vocational training centers in several habitations.

Meanwhile, the chief minister announced additional financial relief of 3.95 billion Rupees (about US$94 million) for repairing and replacing damaged boats and nets. Therefore, the package for the restoration of the livelihood of the tsunami-hit fishermen has risen to 4.61 billion Rupees (about US$109 million).

The Dec. 26 tidal waves, which swept through almost the whole coastal line along the southeastern state of Thamil Nadu, left 7,993 people dead and 896,781 others displaced.
 
(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2005)