Sify sets up free Internet kiosks in TN

Chennai: Sify Ltd, responding to the need for reliable communications between the Tsunami affected areas of Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Kanyakumari and Chennai, is establishing Internet centers in each of these areas. These will offer free Internet access facilities to the public, NGOs, officials and everyone who wishes to use the Internet to communicate to their loved ones.

The first center in Cuddalore is already up and running, while the center in Kanyakumari is expected to be onstream on December 31. Nagapattinam is posing a challenge in terms of connectivity for both telecom and Internet access still, but the situation is being closely monitored and connectivity will be established as soon as possible.

Sify has also opened special pages on its consumer portal www.sify.com and www.samachar.com to raise funds for the Red Cross.

In another development, RBS, the sole distributor for Siemens Home appliances in India, has pledged to donate five percent of all sales profits on its products in Tamil Nadu to the Tsunami Relief. Tamil Nadu is one of the worst hit areas with deaths numbering in the thousands. In the coming weeks, relief agencies also fear outbreaks of diseases in the area.

From December 31, 2004 to January 5, 2005, throughout Tamil Nadu, any purchase of a Siemens product will automatically raise five percent for the victims of the Tsunamis. The money will be collected and donated specifically towards the reconstruction of Hospitals and Schools.

RBS Home Appliances MD, Vipul Raval said, "We could not just stand by and watch this tragedy unfold without doing anything. My counterparts in Germany and I decided to do our bit and donate a percentage of our sale profits towards the Tamil Nadu Tsunami Relief, and I also saw that this would not only benefit the victims but it would also make it easier for my customers to help."