NEW DELHI: As the Centre granted Rs 260.56 crore instead of the Rs 2, 221 crore requested by the Kerala government for rebuilding landslide-hit Wayanad, Congress General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP from the state's Wayanad district, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, on Saturday said that "what they received instead is neglect" and that "relief and rehabilitation must rise above politics."
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took to social media platform X on Saturday and said, “The people of Wayanad faced a devastating tragedy that demanded compassion, fairness, and urgent relief. Kerala requested Rs 2, 221 crore to rebuild lives after the landslide, but the Central government sanctioned only Rs 260 crore — a fraction of what was needed."
She added, “The people of Wayanad, who lost homes, livelihoods, and loved ones, had hoped for meaningful assistance, especially after the Prime Minister’s visit. What they received instead is neglect.”
“Relief and rehabilitation must rise above politics. Human suffering cannot be treated as a political opportunity. The people of Wayanad deserve nothing less than justice, support, and dignity, ” she said.
Earlier on October 1, more than a year after the devastating landslides struck Wayanad, the Centre sanctioned its first dedicated financial assistance for the district’s reconstruction.
A High-Level Committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved Rs 260.56 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as against Kerala’s demand for Rs 2, 221 crore.
The allocation is meant for rebuilding areas ravaged by the July 2023 landslides in Mundakkai and Chooralmala.
The July 30, 2024, disaster decimated four villages, injured hundreds, claimed over 200 lives, and left 32 people still missing.
The approval comes after 14 months of repeated pleas from the state government and elected representatives.