Taj to reopen Tower on 21 December; sets up fund for terror victims

15 December 2008

The Taj group of hotels, which is all set to reopen the Taj Mahal Tower for gusts on 21 December, has set up a public service welfare trust fund - Taj Public Service Welfare Trust (TPS Welfare Trust) - for the victims of the recent terror attack on Mumbai.

The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower in Mumbai was one of the targets of the terror attacks in Mumbai and the worst affected in the attack, in which at least 183 people were killed and several others were inured.

''During the unprecedented attack on Mumbai between November 26 to 29, 2008, many people from the security forces, the police, fire service, hotel employees, guests of the Taj and general public were killed or wounded. In the aftermath of this terror attack, the Taj group has witnessed an outpouring of emotional support from well-wishers in India and across the globe, both for the restoration of the hotel and to offer relief for those affected by the attack. In response to this, the Taj group has set up a public service welfare trust fund named Taj Public Service Welfare Trust (TPS Welfare Trust),'' the Tata Group said in a release.
 
''The objective of the Taj Public Service Welfare Trust is to provide immediate relief to all victims of the recent attack, including to the families of those who were killed - be it the general public, the security forces, employees of the Taj or employees of other establishments affected by the terrorists. This trust will continue to discharge its mandate in the coming years, specifically covering relief to victims of sudden acts of violence, natural disasters, and other tragic events that inflict damage to life and property, '' the release said.

The fund is also likely to tap foreign donations so as to commence relief measures immediately.

''Besides IHCL, the Sir Dorab Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust have committed a significant initial contribution to the trust,'' the statement added.

Ratan Tata, head of the Tata Group, will be on the board of the trust.
Meanwhile, the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower will reopen the rooms in The Taj Mahal Tower for guests on 21 December.