'India open to overseas aid for tsunami-hit'

Addressing the delegates at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Chidambaram said the nation is open to overseas aid for tsunami-hit.

The Centre said on Friday that it was open to overseas financial assistance for rehabilitation programmes in tsunami-affected areas in the country.

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"Primarily India has refused overseas financial assistance for relief operations in tsunami-affected areas," Finance Minister P Chidambaram said addressing delegates at Third Pravasi Bharatiya Divas function in Mumbai.

"It is not true that India has taken an isolated stand on receiving foreign aid," he added.

India in the long term would be open to overseas financial assistance for rehabilitation programme, which would include designing lost structures, rebuilding infrastructure and cleaning coastal areas, Chidambaram said.

The country was capable of meeting the challenge of immediate relief operations without overseas financial assistance.

Moreover, it has extended relief assistance to tsunami-hit countries, including Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the Finance Minister said.