The instruction from the Indian Air Force headquarters in New Delhi that Kerala government has to pay up Rs 34 crore towards the expense of the IAF aircrafts and its manpower during the flood rescue operations has pushed the State into dilemma as the government is already finding it hard to meet the expenses for rebuilding and rehabilitating the flood-ravaged State.

Not only this, the government will also have to pay the Centre Rs 260 crore towards the cost of distributing free Ration items to the poor during the times of floods.

Though the fare demanded by the Airforce for hiring their service and aircraft for non-military purposes are as per existing rules, this is something hard for the common man to assimilate.

But in such exigencies, the government can only depend on the three Forces. And, if that comes at an unaffordable price, the system responsible for it is totally illogic and the approach is narrow-minded.

The Centre could easily foot such bills incurred by State during the times of natural calamities. Over-burdening the already cash-starved State is an unconscientious attitude.

If the Centre had asked the State to pay the bills after sanctioning the amount the latter had requested for the reconstruction of Kerala, it would have been justifiable.

In total, Rs 31000 is required for reconstruction while only Rs 2683 crore has reached the chief minister’s flood relief fund, which would not suffice for rebuilding Kerala. Kerala had demanded Rs 5616 crore in two memorandums and it asked the Centre to release Rs 2000 crore immediately. However, the Centre had released only Rs 600 crore initially.

When the Centre have magnanimously come out to help other states who have had to face such calamities, it is turning its back on Kerala. The politics behind this double standard should not go uunoticed.

The Centre had also blocked all means by which Kerala could have got financial aid from abroad. It restricted other countries including UAE and other foreign agencies from donating money to Kerala. However many naïve persons thought the Centre will complement this restrictions by allotting more money for the State. But now they have come to realise, that is not to happen.
If the Centre is denying such helps in the name of laws and rules, don’t the law makers in Parliament who are voted to that house by the people have the responsibility to change that law?

Any government has the authority do away with laws and system that defies logic and common sense. It is the responsibility of governments to recue drowning people using helicopters and airplanes. It is also the dharma of armed forces to help civilian authorities in such extraordinary circumstances.

What different armed forces did during the floods were noble services. For that, the State is also indebted to them but asking Kerala to pay the bill for that is something that cannot be approved of. The Centre should bear that expense without waiting for the State to ask for it.

Political leadership that are always shedding tears over the miseries of the flood-affected people fail to speak out against the Centre’s double standards. If something beneficial has to happen, we all shall have to stand united.