India to aid Sri Lanka's displaced, Karunanidhi thanks Pranab

New Delhi/Chennai, July 6 : Concerned over the plight of the displaced in Sri Lanka's northeast, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Monday announced Rs.500 crore (USD 100 million) for the rehabilitation and relief of the island nation's internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Expressing concern over the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka, Mukherjee announced an allocation of $100 million for the welfare of the around 300,000 Tamil civilians housed in various camps in Sri Lanka following the end of the decades-long insurgency.

The move was welcomed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who thanked Mukherjee and said: 'The budget with its emphasis on social justice would benefit all sections of the society.'

He also welcomed the interest reduction to farmers who pay their loans on time and the proposal to increase the farm loans.

Karunanidhi praised the increased allocations under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and other projects.

--- IANS