Centre Calls Routine Fund Allocation 'Monsoon Aid'; Kerala Yet to Receive Relief for Wayanad Landslide

Thiruvananthapuram: The Union government’s recent claim that it has granted Rs 153.20 crore to Kerala as financial aid for monsoon-related disasters has been misleadingly presented as fresh assistance. In reality, the amount is only the first instalment of Kerala’s regular annual share from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) — not special relief for recent calamities.
The information was published last week through a press release by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and widely circulated by Malayalam media as “Central aid to Kerala.” However, officials have clarified that the amount is not additional support, but part of the standard central share under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for all states.
As per the 15th Finance Commission, Kerala is entitled to Rs 408 crore annually for disaster management, of which 25% (Rs 101.60 crore) is borne by the state and 75% (Rs 306.40 crore) by the Centre. The 153.20 crore disbursed in June represents half of the Centre’s annual contribution. The second instalment will only be released in January 2026. This fund covers preparedness, response, and mitigation — not post-disaster rehabilitation.
The PIB release mentioned a total of Rs 1,066.80 crore allocated to flood- and landslide-affected states like Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Kerala, and Uttarakhand. However, no state-specific disaster was cited as the basis for the allocation, reaffirming that the release was routine.
Meanwhile, Kerala is still awaiting actual disaster assistance. Despite declaring the Wayanad Mundakkai landslide a “severe disaster”, the Centre has not released a single rupee in special relief — nearly a year after the tragedy. Moreover, in a move that has sparked political and public criticism, the Centre demanded that Kerala pay for the helicopter deployed by the Indian Air Force for rescue operations.
Kerala had submitted a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report in September 2023, requesting Rs 2,221.033 crore for rehabilitation and infrastructure restoration in Wayanad and nearby affected regions. So far, no response has been received, and the file remains pending with the Ministry of Home Affairs. The state’s request to waive bank loans of disaster-hit families was also turned down.