In 2018 and 2019, a total of Rs 4,912.45 crore was collected for the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF), including contributions from schemes like the salary challenge. Surprisingly, Rs 772.38 crore remains unspent, as per CMDRF portal figures. Flood relief, a critical need, received only Rs 4,140.07 from this fund.
A political tussle ensued when the Opposition UDF compared their past mass contact program with the ongoing Nava Kerala Sadas by the LDF. The CPM countered, asserting that despite three mass contact programs, the Oommen Chandy Government had disbursed only Rs 808.78 crore in five years. In contrast, the two Pinarayi governments claimed to have spent Rs 7,633 crore in seven-and-a-half years.
During the Pinarayi Government’s tenure, CMDRF received Rs 5,744.89 crore during the COVID-19 pandemic and floods. Of this, Rs 5,081.14 crore was allocated to both crises, according to CMDRF portal data. The CPM’s argument implies Rs 2,551.86 crore was designated for purposes other than COVID-19 and floods.
According to the CPM, Rs 1,917.33 crore was given during the second Pinarayi Government’s tenure. This suggests that during the first term, only Rs 634.53 crore was spent outside of Covid and flood relief. Notably, the state disaster relief fund was merged with the CMDRF to channel all funds through it during COVID-19 and floods, as revealed by the data.
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