Mumbai: The Oberoi Care Fund, a special donation fund set up by the Oberoi Group, has been giving monthly financial aid and ensuring the education of children of ten of its employees, who were killed in the 26/11 terror strike.
The hotel has so far disbursed a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to families of the unfortunate staff members apart from continuing their monthly allowance for the next 10 years.
"Our staff has always been our most valued asset. Each
family of the deceased staff has received approximately Rs 25
lakh, part of which has come through The Oberoi Care Fund,"
Oberoi Hotels and Resorts Mumbai, Executive Vice President,
Devendra Bharma, told a news agency here.
He said this was apart from the state and national
government compensation, the workman's compensation, employee
contribution and insurance covers the employees.
"The hotel has also assured them a monthly sum for the
education of their children up to the age of 21 years. The
salary for deceased staff is also being paid on a monthly
basis for the next ten years," Bharma added.
On November 26 last year, ten rifle-toting terrorists
launched a brutal seige on key establishments of the city
including two luxury hotels, a Jewish centre, a railway
station and two hospitals apart from opening indiscriminate
fire on pedestrians.
The three-day attack saw extensive damage to property
and loss of 166 lives, even as many more lost their means of
livelihood.
The Oberoi Group decided to set up the Oberoi Care
Fund in partnership with 'Give India', a renowned NGO.
The Fund accepted contributions till March this year.
However, well-wishers and guests still pour in condolences and
cheques in favour of the fund to the Bombay Community Public
Trust.
Bharma said many of the 1,800 emplyees working with
the group's two hotels at Nariman Point -- The Oberoi and
Trident -- contributed a part of their salaries for
rehabilitation of the unfortunate staff members.
"All employees of The Oberoi and Trident contributed
from their salary to the families of the deceased team
members. We still haven't frozen the final budget of
compensation and rehabilitation," Bharma said.
He said the hotel has retained all staff members on
its pay-roll.
"There have been no voluntary retirements in any
of our hotels since the incidents," Bharma said.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, November 22, 2009, 13:01