Centre mocks with a mere hundred crore, humans all around India pools in their earnings instead

Thiruvananthapuram: Widespread discontent arises after centre decides to answer Kerala’s request for disaster relief funds with a negligible amount. Following the severe loss Kerala encountered after floods, the state had put forward a demand for immediate relief, to which centre has now turned a cold shoulder.

State government estimates a loss of around ten thousand crores, and centre has responded with a mere amount of 100 crores. This condemnable decision has been taken despite the fact that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had demanded a sum of 1220 crores towards relief moves.

Expectation had been set high after Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured to consider the state’s demand immediately, while visiting the grief-stricken areas. However, the center’s decision came hours after, leaving the folk disgruntled. Even after agreeing with the state demand verbally and asserting that the loss is far beyond measure, the Home Minister has been unable to stick to his word.

However, this has not stopped the inflow of huge sums towards the relief fund from all over the country. The state is determined to fight atrocities even more efficiently, despite the centre being least co-operative.

Kerala continues to receive funds from many individuals and groups working in the field of art, culture, and social welfare. People tend to pool in significant sums from their earnings, and organizations are keen on donating profit shares.

State Finance Minister Dr. Thomas Isaac registers his joy and satisfaction to see these unanimous efforts put forth by communities and groups. He further comments that as a minister of finance department, the calamity and the additional expense associated with it is expected to perplex him, but instead the helping hands are urging him to nurture his hope in unity and harmony.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had requested all to aid the state in all possible ways, following which big names from south Indian politics and film industry came forward to answer his call. Prominent businessman hailing from Kerala, M.A. Yusufali made a generous donation of five crores towards the fund.

Artists including Mohanlal, Mammooty and Jayasurya from the Malayalam movie industry also did their part by making contributions and urging their well-wishers to join hands for a cause.

This indifference adopted by the central government towards the flood relief activities of Kerala is largely regarded as part of the political vengeance it holds against non-BJP ruled states. This criticism is found to be validated when the attitudes taken by the centre during the relief activities in BJP ruled states and the rest is compared. In states like Gujarat, the centre has taken far more considerate moves earlier.

Prime Minister Modi had visited Gujarat when it was stricken with a similar case of flood, and promised an immediate aid of five hundred crores. Families of the deceased were given a compensation of two lakh each, and those injured received a sum of fifty thousand each from the PM’s relief fund.

On the contrary, Tamil Nadu, which had to face severe natural calamities four times between 2015 and 2017, was granted only 5.25% of the sum it had demanded from the central government. Taking these facts into consideration, critics describe centre’s move as a clear case of indifference towards any plight faced by states which are under non-BJP governments.