If a similar survey were to be conducted in the aftermath of the Kashmir quake, corporate India is sure to end up with a far worse report card.
Only after politicians and the public began to complain that no relief was forthcoming from corporates even five days after the disaster did India Inc. swing into action. Business chambers are now putting their acts together to help those affected in the industrially backward state.
"We did not know the gravity of the situation. News (of the actual impact) trickled only late," said D S Rawat, secretary general of industry chamber Assocham, which is putting together funds for rehabilitation work.
A Confederation of Indian Industry statement said its members had already "come forth and pledged approximately Rs 3 crore (Rs 30 million) of support till date."
CII, which said two villages -- Halqa Kamalkot and Halqa Saltandaki -- would be the focus of its intervention initially, also noted that it had so far sent 1,670 blankets to the affected. Besides, it has ordered 500 tents and 1,000 more blankets.
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Onkar S Kanwar said his chamber had asked more than 2,000 member companies, besides others to donate generously for helping quake victims. "Appeal has been made for donation," he said in a statement.
Rawat said allegations that the industry was sitting out because it had no stake or investments in the state were baseless.
"It is not because that we don't have any investment, but because we didn't have proper information," he said, adding that Assocham was looking for an agency to coordinate the relief work.
On Tuesday, a leader of the separatist Hurriyat Conference had noted that the industry, which was quick to respond to calamities in Bhuj (Gujarat) and Latur (Maharashtra) had not shown the same concern for Kashmir.
Meanwhile, FICCI appealed to the government for a notification towards 100 per cent tax reduction on contributions made by individuals and corporates.
"Any donation made (to FICCI-SEDF relief fund) is 50 per cent tax exempted. Since this catastrophe has been declared a national disaster by the government, it is likely that 100 per cent tax exemption is granted as in the case of Gujarat," a FICCI statement said.
In its statement, CII said its relief efforts would be not only "one of providing immediate relief, but will be long term and rehabilitative in nature."
