Central government declares Wayanad landslide as calamity of severe nature; no decision on special financial assistance

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The central government has informed Kerala that the Wayanad landslide has been declared a calamity of severe nature. It was the Cabinet Committee that recognized the landslide disaster as a calamity of a severe nature in response to Kerala's persistent requests.

However, no decision has yet been made regarding the announcement of special financial assistance for Kerala. The letter sent by the Ministry of Home Affairs Joint Secretary Dr Rajesh Gupta to Principal Secretary Tinku Biswal states that the state's request to declare the Wayanad disaster as a calamity of severe nature has been accepted. The Ministry of Home Affairs had previously informed Parliament about this. It is also mentioned in the letter that if the disaster is declared a calamity of a severe nature, the state will be provided with financial assistance from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), and that this assistance has already been transferred. The letter further states that, based on the recommendations of the inter-ministerial committee, the district is eligible for additional assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

When 23 MPs from Kerala, led by Priyanka Gandhi, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to demand an immediate financial package for Wayanad, they received a response indicating that it would be granted soon. Kerala also requested that the matter be included in the upcoming budget. However, there was no mention of this in the communication received.