Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government will provide up to ₹6,000 per month as rent assistance to families relocating from relief camps for the Wayanad Mundakkai landslide victims. This aid will also be given to families moving to the homes of relatives. The funds will be provided from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
However, this assistance will not be available to those moving into properties given free of charge by government or private individuals, or into buildings fully sponsored by others. In cases where partial sponsorship is provided, the remaining amount (up to ₹6,000) will be given as monthly rent assistance.
Previously, an order was issued to provide ₹10,000 as emergency financial aid to all disaster-affected families. For families who have lost their livelihood, two adults will receive ₹300 per day, and families with bedridden individuals or patients undergoing long-term treatment will receive ₹300 per day for three individuals, for 30 days.
The cabinet sub-committee has announced that the distribution of government aid for the landslide victims has begun. The ₹10,000 aid for directly affected families started being disbursed on Tuesday. Minister K. Rajan informed that the money will be transferred through bank accounts.
Immediate aid of ₹10,000 for the families of deceased individuals is being provided as previously announced. The current assistance will be deposited directly into accounts. For those who have lost their passbooks or do not remember their account numbers, the funds will be deposited upon identifying the bank where the account is held. If the bank is not remembered, the account will be located through address-based inquiries at banks. New accounts will also be opened with zero balance if needed.
The decision to provide ₹300 per day for two family members for 30 days will be implemented after temporary relocation. This amount is meant to cover living expenses if the relocated families are unemployed. Families with long-term ill or bedridden individuals will also receive this aid. According to SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) guidelines, the State Disaster Management Authority is authorized to provide aid for 30 days. A request has been made to the Prime Minister and the central government to extend this period to 90 days. The minister stated that if permission is granted, aid will be provided for 90 days. Ministers A.K. Shashidharan, O.R. Kelu, and Collector D.R. Meghashri also attended the press conference.
