Pfizer grants Rs 1 cr for Tsunami victims

Pharmaceutical major Pfizer and World Vision India on Thursday announced a grant of Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) under an economic rehabilitation programme for Tsunami affected communities, which WVI will extend as micro-finance development loans.

Announcing the tie-up, Kewal Handa, managing director, Pfizer that the company's employees had contributed liberally to the tune of $60 million for relief operations after the Tsunami in December last year.

He said Pfizer has been supporting the work of many non governmental organisations, especially in the area of health.

James V Varghese, WVI director, innovative microfinance for poverty alleviation and community transformation (Impact), said a loan to a maximum of Rs 10,000 would be extended at three per cent interest rate, depending on the needs of the affected.

The scheme, to benefit 1000 families, was meant for affected fishermen, those involved in fishing related work and petty shopkeepers, he said.  Dr Jayakumar Christian, WVI national director said WVI was now moving into the rehabilitation phase.

Since last December, WVI had built 3,558 temporary shelters and given 1,627 boats, including engines and fishing nets.

It had just handed over 100 permanent houses to the affected in Kerala, he said. WVI had also distributed educational kits to 15,000 children.

Excluding the money for the Tsunami programme, WVI had an annual budget of Rs 176 crore (Rs 1.76 billion), he said.