Kerala Cabinet approves comprehensive relief package amid devastating monsoon floods
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Cabinet has approved a major financial relief package to assist victims of torrential monsoon flooding, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan announced during a press conference today. Under the newly sanctioned measures, the government will provide ₹8 lakh in ex-gratia compensation to families of those who lost their lives, alongside extensive financial restitution for agricultural damage and commercial losses suffered by local traders.
The monsoon-related disasters have taken a severe human and economic toll across the state, claiming 26 lives to date. Emergency services and local authorities have set up 462 relief camps housing 27,048 displaced residents, with the districts of Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Kottayam reporting the highest numbers of displaced citizens. Furthermore, 11 people have sustained serious injuries, while four individuals remain missing. The agricultural sector has suffered widespread devastation, with floodwaters ruining 1,882 hectares of farmland and affecting 23,537 farmers. Initial state estimates place total losses at approximately ₹67.44 crore.
To address immediate distress, the Cabinet has considerably increased housing compensation. Families whose homes were completely destroyed will now receive ₹6 lakh, up from the previous allocation of ₹4 lakh. For citizens who lost both their home and land, the compensation package has been raised from ₹10 lakh to ₹12 lakh. Additionally, the state will fund temporary rental accommodation for families unable to reside in flooded properties, cover funeral expenses with a ₹10,000 grant for bereaved families, and provide daily subsistence allowances of ₹300 for up to two individuals per ration card in inundated households.
Commercial establishments and small business owners have also been brought under the safety net. In an unprecedented move, a flat grant of ₹10,000 will be issued to owners of shops and residences affected by floodwaters. To aid long-term recovery for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the Cabinet introduced the Ujjeevana Soft Loan Scheme. Under this initiative, affected businesses can access soft loans up to ₹12 lakh across three concessionary tiers, with the government contributing up to 25 per cent—or ₹3 lakh—as margin money directly to participating banks. Farmers will benefit from an immediate 25 per cent increase in crop loss compensation, funded entirely by the state.
Addressing long-term coastal vulnerability, Chief Minister Satheesan confirmed that immediate fortification work will begin on coastal seawalls using geobags. The state government also announced a revamped iteration of the Punargeham housing scheme for coastal fishing communities, promising enhanced financial assistance and secure housing solutions for vulnerable families.