Shillong, Aug 22: The All India Malayalee Association, Meghalaya Unit on Wednesday appealed to the public to contribute to Kerela which has been affected by devastating floods and landslides and urged the Meghalaya government to also provide both skilled and unskilled workers.

All India Malayalee Association, Meghalaya Unit President, G. Pradeep Pillai told reporters on Wednesday that a letter in this regard was sent to the Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma on August 20.

“We informed the Chief Minister that there would be huge requirement of skilled and unskilled manpower for rebuilding Kerela and we work together for such an initiative,” Pillai said.

The Association also urged the state government to provide skill workers who would be sent to Kerela for various restoration works be it electrician, carpentry, construction workers and others.

He also appealed to the general public and business people in the state to contribute whatever they can in order to rebuild Kerela.

The Association at the state level has already mobilized funds for the initial relief of flood victims in Kerela.

Pillai appealed to the people of the state to be part of the “Rebuild Kerela Campaign” by being a volunteer for contributing to the chief minister’s disaster relief fund account.

He said that donations collected for the forthcoming Onam festival in Shillong would be also sent to Kerela.

Pillai also expressed the association’s gratitude to the Meghalaya government for its move to donate Rs 1 crore to Kerela for relief purposes.

Pillai said that people can directly send donation to the chief minister’s disaster relief fund account via the State Bank of India (A/c Number: 67319948232), City Branch, Thiruvananthapuram, South Indian Bank (A/c Number: 0721053000002584) Corporate Branch, Thiruvananthapuram and Federal Bank (A/c Number: 10210100412397) Thiruvananthapuram/Palayam.

Kerela has witnessed worst floods and hundreds of lives have been lost, and thousands lost their homes, household articles and valuable documents.