Owner or tenant? Ration card or no card? Kerala's flood relief order leaves beneficiaries unclear

Thiruvananthapuram: The distribution of financial assistance announced by the government for monsoon calamity victims has been delayed. Not a single person whose house was flooded and who sought refuge in a relief camp or with relatives has received the Rs. 10,000 assistance announced for cleaning their homes.

The Disaster Management Department had issued an order stating that Rs. 10,000 would be provided per ration card. Although there are indications that those who did not stay in relief camps would also be eligible for the assistance based on a report from the Village Officer, the order does not specify the conditions or procedure for implementing the scheme.

Village Officers are expected to identify flooded houses and submit reports, but no order or time frame has been issued in this regard. Even the application form for seeking the assistance has not yet been prepared.

When Rs. 10,000 was provided to families whose houses were flooded during the 2018 floods, the amount was raised by combining Rs. 6,200 from the State Disaster Response Fund and Rs. 3,800 from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. However, the latest order does not specify the account from which the assistance should be disbursed. Revenue officials say this has prevented district collectors from transferring the amount.

The order also does not clarify how assistance should be provided to those living on puramboke (government) land. The indication that people without ration cards may not be considered for the assistance has also raised concerns.

Beneficiary: Shop owner or tenant?

The order states that emergency assistance of Rs. 10,000 each will be provided to micro, small and medium enterprises, industrial units and recognised homestays that suffered damage. However, it is unclear whether the assistance will be given to the owner of the establishment or the tenant operating it.

A similar ambiguity exists in the case of families living in rented houses.

Camp allowance also delayed

The government had also announced an allowance of Rs. 300 per day for seven days for each family staying in relief camps. The assistance is to be provided per ration card, covering two adults.

However, there is still no clarity on who will distribute the allowance or how it will be disbursed.