STATEMENT
(Continued from page 2)

accidental or unauthorised launch.

The NPT community needs to un-
derstand that India cannot join the
NPT as a non-nuclear weapon
state. Statements by NPT States
Parties about India rolling back its
nuclear programme are mere di-
versions to prevent focussed at-
tention on the basic goals of the
NPT.

India’s commitment to global
nuclear disarmament and lasting
non-proliferation remains undi-
luted. While willing to commence
negotiations on Nuclear Weapons
Convention, India also remains
ready to participate in agreed and
irreversible steps to prepare the
ground for such negotiations. A
global no-first-use agreement and
a non-use agreement against non-
nuclear weapon states would meet
the longstanding requirement for
legally binding negative security
assurances and assurances to
nuclear-weapon-free zones. An-
other positive development would
be a commitment by nuclear
weapon states not to deploy
nuclear weapons outside their own
national territories. Nuclear wea-
pon states also need to take steps
to lower the alert status, through
gradual de-alerting actions, con-
sistent with policies of no-first-use
and the defensive role of nuclear
weapons. Tactical weapons that
lend themselves to war fighting
roles need to be eliminated. These
would be some positive and con-
crete steps in the right direction.

India has been a responsible mem-
ber of the international nuclear
non-proliferation regime and will
continue to take initiatives and
work with like-minded countries
to bring about stable, genuine and
lasting non-proliferation, thus
leading to a nuclear-weapon-free-
world.

Google

Information on drought-hit areas
and relief activities

More than 50 million people have been affected by a severe drought
in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and various parts of
India.

Several central Ministries and the State Governments have launched
relief operations to alleviate the situation. Food, water and fodder
are being transported to drought-hit areas. The Prime Minister is
personally coordinating the relief efforts in consultation with the
Chief Ministers of the affected states.

Some of the relief measures taken to tackle the
drought situation are:

¢ Food for work program have been launched.

¢ Potable water is being transported by ship and special trains.

¢ Special funds have been allocated for relief operations.

© More than 400 non-governmental organizations are engaged in
relief activities in these states.

Prime Minister Vajpayee while addressing the nation on April 24,
2000 has appealed to the people to contribute to the National
Relief Fund.

Contributions to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund are tax
exempt under the Indian Income Tax Act. A receipt will be issued
for contributions.

Send your donation by check or money draft drawn in favor of
PRIME MINISTER’S NATIONAL RELIEF FUND to

PRIME MINISTER’S NATIONAL RELIEF FUND
PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
SOUTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI - 110 011 INDIA

Relief contact Information:
State of Gujarat
K.C. Mahapatra
Relief Commissioner
Revenue Department
Government of Gujarat
New Sachivalaya Complex
Gandhi Nagar - 382 010

State of Rajasthan

R.N. Meena

Relief Commissioner
Government of Rajasthan
Telefax: +91 (141) - 382155

State of Orissa

Office of the Principal Resident Commissioner of Orissa, Delhi
Tel: +91 (11) 3019771, 3018498, 3010479, 3792002
Fax: +91 (11) 301 0839

Special Relief Commissioner, Orissa, Bhubaneswar
Tel: +91 (674) 40152, 40832
Fax: +91 (674) 400161, +91(671) 603346 at Cuttack

Relief supplies may be sent through International Committee of Red
Cross or through other NGOs.

INDIA NEWS « May-June 2000 3