DEVASTATING FLOOD IN KERALA

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, today, said that the state government will hold a discussion with the Centre about India declining foreign aid for Kerala floods. Earlier today, it was reported that India has instructed all its missions abroad to decline offers of aid from foreign governments for Kerala.

CM Pinarayi Vijayan also said that the National Disaster Management Plan of 2016 has provisions to accept foreign aid if it is voluntarily offered by another country in times of severe calamity.

"2016 National Disaster Management Plan says, 'if govt of another country voluntarily offers assistance as a goodwill gesture in solidarity with the disaster victims,the central govt may accept the offer'. Right now only talk is happening, let us see what happens," Vijayan said.

Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, in a tweet, said "National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) Chapter 9 on International Cooperation accepts that in time severe calamity voluntary aid given by a foreign government can be accepted". In another tweet, Isaac hit out at the Centre for refusing UAE's aid of Rs 700 crore.

"We asked the Union government for financial support of Rs 2200 crore; they grant us a precious Rs 600 crore. We make no request to any foreign government but UAE government voluntarily offer Rs 700cr. No, says Union government, it is below our dignity to accept foreign aid. This is a dog in the manger policy," he wrote in a tweet.

Source : India Today