Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Seeks Central Aid After Wayanad Landslide Disaster
In Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed disappointment over the lack of substantial support from the central government following the Wayanad landslide disaster. He stated that the state had requested an emergency relief fund of Rs 291 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund, but only Rs 145.6 crore had been sanctioned as part of routine procedures, not specific disaster aid.
Vijayan mentioned that the issue was discussed in a Cabinet meeting, and they decided to urge the central government again for the necessary aid. He also criticized the media for spreading false narratives about the state’s relief efforts, which he believes have discredited Kerala globally. He emphasized that the misinformation aims to break the support for Wayanad and discourage contributions to the relief fund.
The landslides, caused by heavy rainfall, affected several villages in Wayanad district, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives. Vijayan condemned the spread of false news as ‘destructive journalism’ and a crime against society, urging those responsible to understand the seriousness of their actions.
Doubts Revealed
Kerala -: Kerala is a state in the southern part of India, known for its beautiful backwaters, beaches, and rich culture.
CM -: CM stands for Chief Minister, who is the head of the government in an Indian state, similar to a principal in a school but for the whole state.
Pinarayi Vijayan -: Pinarayi Vijayan is the Chief Minister of Kerala, responsible for making important decisions for the state.
Central Aid -: Central Aid refers to financial help or support given by the central government of India to a state during emergencies like natural disasters.
Wayanad -: Wayanad is a district in Kerala, known for its hills and forests, which recently faced a landslide disaster.
Landslide -: A landslide is when a large amount of earth or rocks slide down a mountain or hill, often caused by heavy rain, which can be very dangerous.
Rs 145.6 crore -: Rs 145.6 crore is a large amount of money, where ‘Rs’ stands for Indian Rupees, and ‘crore’ is a term used in India to denote ten million.
Emergency relief fund -: An emergency relief fund is money set aside to help people quickly during disasters like floods or landslides.
Misinformation -: Misinformation is false or incorrect information spread to people, which can cause confusion or panic.
Destructive journalism -: Destructive journalism refers to news reporting that harms or misleads people by spreading false or negative stories.