After a long wait, the central government has admitted that the landslides that occurred in Mundakkai and Chooralmala in Wayanad on July 30 are on the list of disasters of severe nature. This revelation of the centre comes five months after the disaster. The state government and all the political parties of Kerala were impatiently waiting for such an announcement as the central aid distribution depends upon the severity of the disaster. Hundreds of people died in that single night in the natural calamity that occurred in Wayanad. Many houses and farms were swept away by the floodwaters. The situation in Mundakkai and Chooralmala was such that it was impossible to continue life in any way.

Despite being such a terrible disaster, the centre refused to consider it as a disaster of severe nature and habilitate those who have suffered losses, or allow the necessary assistance to build safe shelters for them. The state government and political parties had repeatedly submitted petitions asking the centre not to delay the aid. However, there was no change in the central position except for the repetition of the answer that Wayanad cannot be included in the list of disasters of severe nature according to disaster criteria. It has to be noted that though it has been accepted that the Wayanad landslide is a disaster of a severe nature, no decision has been taken regarding the relief funds that can be provided. Not only that, there is not even the slightest mention of financial assistance in the Centre's notification.

Whenever Kerala made a request to declare Wayanad as a national disaster and provide additional financial assistance, the Centre pointed out that there was enough money in the state's disaster relief fund. The process of reconstruction and rehabilitation in Wayanad is being delayed indefinitely due to the negative attitude of the Centre. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had arrived in Wayanad on the 10th day after the landslide disaster and visited the disaster-affected areas in detail. Before returning, he had assured that all possible assistance would be provided for the restoration of Wayanad. After the Prime Minister, teams of officials reached Wayanad to assess the damage and prepare a report. Along with this, a report for the Rs 2219 crore assistance package prepared by the state government for the Wayanad rehabilitation package was also submitted to the Centre.

The Centre, which came forward to generously help many other states that faced natural calamities, turned its back when it came to Kerala. Kerala had strongly protested against this strange attitude in many forums including the Legislative Assembly but there was no result. Now that the Center is ready to accept the landslides in Wayanad as a disaster of severe nature, the state of Kerala should be sanctioned an aid package accordingly. No more time should be wasted on this matter. The Centre should remember the fact that the entire Kerala people are angry with the negative attitude shown regarding providing aid. It is only when such tragedies are seen beyond politics and the necessary assistance is provided, that the country will have a sense of unity.