Modi rejects foreign govt donations for Kerala with thanks; accepts private contributions

Agencies

August 22, 2018

New Delhi, Aug 22: India will not accept the generous help that has been offered by foreign governments after the floods in Kerala. The UAE, Qatar and Maldives have all pledged assistance to India for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the state.

But high-level sources said that while India was extremely grateful for the offers, its own resources would be used to rebuild Kerala. India will say "thank you" but "no thank you" as internal resources are mobilized. This does not, however, extend to private contributions pouring in from all over the world, given the huge diaspora from Kerala.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE's PM, offered almost Rs 700 crore to Kerala. It was seen as an acknowledgment of the connection between Dubai and Kerala as well as the close ties between UAE and India. In a tweet, PM Modi thanked the ruler of Dubai. Kerala CM Vijayan also offered fulsome gratitude.

Qatar has offered almost Rs 35 crore while Maldives, a country with which India's ties have nosedived recently, stepped up with an offer of $50,000. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also landed up at the United Nation's doorstep in Geneva to ask for aid.

Sources said that New Delhi's decision to decline individual offers of aids from foreign nations was in sync with the policy formulated by Congress-led UPA Government headed by Manmohan Singh almost 14 years ago when tsunami hit the southern coast of India in December 2004.

Singh had then decided against accepting foreign aid, stating that India would use its own resources to respond to the calamity and rehabilitate people affected by it and reconstruct the areas devastated by it.

New Delhi's decision had been in keeping with India's growing economic clout. India had rather provided assistance to Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand, which had also hit by the Tsunami.

India has since been accepting only aid and loans offered by multilateral organisations and lending agencies for rehabilitation and reconstruction in the wake of natural calamities.

New Delhi had publicly articulated the policy even in 2013, when it had rejected offers of foreign aid for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction after the devastating flood in Uttarakhand.

"As a general policy in case of rescue and relief operations, we have followed the practice that we have adequate ability to respond to emergency requirements," Syed Akbaruddin, the then spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, told journalists in July 2013.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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