Govt expected 500 crores in Wayanad salary challenge, but received only Rs 231 crore, says CM

KALPETTA: The government had introduced a salary challenge in the wake of the devastating landslides in Wayanad. An amount of Rs 231 crore has been received in the Wayanad Salary Challenge conducted by the government for the rehabilitation following the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide disaster. The government expected Rs 500 crore, but did not get even Rs 300 crore. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the assembly that according to the figures till March 10 in the treasury account opened to receive money, exactly Rs 231,20,97,062 was received. The chief minister clarified this while replying to Linto Joseph MLA.

The allocation received from each department in the years 2024-2025, as well as the amount received through leave surrender and PF, has been explained. The government had asked the employees to pay at least five days' salary. Rs 128.41 crore was received from the salaries of employees who get salaries through SPARC. Received Rs 68.55 crore through leave surrender and Rs 23.26 crore through PF. The share of non-Spark employees was Rs 13.87 crore. If everyone had paid five days' salary, should get an amount of Rs 660 crore. The government received Rs 1246 crore through the salary challenge in the previous floods.