Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 2 (NationPress) Leaders from Kerala have strongly condemned the Central government for its meager financial allocation towards the reconstruction efforts following the catastrophic landslide in Wayanad. They have termed the government’s actions as politically biased and insufficient.

On Wednesday, the Centre approved its first financial assistance for the region’s recovery, with a High-Level Committee led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah sanctioning Rs 260.56 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). This amount falls drastically short of Kerala's request for Rs 2,221 crore.

K.C. Venugopal, Congress General Secretary and Lok Sabha member, accused the Centre of demonstrating “political discrimination” by not providing the requested funds for reconstruction.

“There are currently two Union Ministers from Kerala. They should explain whether this treatment of our state is acceptable. Do they care for the disaster-affected individuals who have been overlooked? Are they willing to challenge the Central government’s position?” questioned Venugopal.

He also urged the Centre to engage in discussions in the areas devastated by the disaster.

While Kerala's reconstruction package request amounted to Rs 2,219 crore, the state was allocated merely Rs 260.56 crore.

For contrast, Maharashtra received Rs 1,492 crore last year, and Assam was allocated Rs 1,270 crore this year for flood relief efforts.

Venugopal insisted on the need for an immediate rectification of this perceived political bias, emphasizing that the federal structure is under threat.

K. Rajan, State Revenue Minister, also voiced his dissatisfaction regarding the Centre’s treatment of Kerala.

“What has the Centre provided? It is nothing compared to the actual damages sustained. It took five months for this disaster to be categorized as L3. We reported losses of Rs 1,222 crore, yet received nothing. We sought Rs 2,221 crore and are given only Rs 260 crore. This is blatant discrimination against Kerala,” said Rajan.

K.N. Balagopal, State Finance Minister, echoed these sentiments, stating, “The Centre’s stance effectively sidelines Kerala. Although some expenses for helicopters and other services during the disaster were covered, the support for reconstruction is grossly inadequate. We will make another attempt to reach out to the Centre,” Balagopal noted, adding that it took 15 months to achieve even this level of support.

Venugopal highlighted the high hopes the Wayanad residents had during the Prime Minister’s visit post-disaster.

However, during the event, the public relations agency focused on crafting photo opportunities while disregarding Kerala’s suffering, showcasing the government’s alleged inhumane stance towards states that do not share its political ideology.

He emphasized that the people of Wayanad deserve sufficient aid, and the Centre must adopt a compassionate and fair approach.