Kerala Floods - Aftermath and Save Sabarimala

[ramana]

I still believe that India should have accepted the money with grace and put it into the kitty for reconstruction. No shame in that, IMO: when UAE gets hit India has and will continue to help.

There has been much more clarity on this non-issue. After the floods the UAE sheikh had shared his sympathies for the Keralite people, and also assured people of Kerala his support. To this "support" (which was not yet defined) the PM also gave a note of thanks to the Sheikh. The foreign ministry of UAE had shared a note about the funds being generated by the people at UAE (expatriates & Emiratis) in order to help Kerala. This fund was to be in the line of around 1 million AED. It was the media with vested interests who linked the "support" of UAE sheikh with the "1 million AED" being collected at UAE.

What happened next seems to be choreographed vilification campaign. A mysterious sum of Rs. 700 crores was brought up, and India's own interim relief fund of Rs. 600 crores was compared with it. The fact that Rs.600 crore was interim relief was also suppressed by the main stream media in Kerala. This vilification campaign went on; till it was abundantly clear that India is going to reject offers of money as a matter of principle and the Sheikh has an option of depositing Rs. 700 crores to the CM's relief fund. UAE then made a formal announcement that it had no plans to give any money. Kerala's politicians had high hopes on a Kerala based businessman, and did not make any official attempts to reach out to the UAE sheikh. This businessman at present does not have any clout with GoI either.

I have been scanning multiple Malayalam media outlets, but have not come across any concrete plans of rehabilitation coming from the Kerala government. Is the state planning to give the people in the relief camps some good "seed money" to help them restart their lives? Is the state coming up with any steps to make the rebuilding of homes etc an easier task? Are they planning to introduce some measures by which people could be trained to take up some jobs? (KL at present has severe shortage of electricians, plumbers etc. etc.). And the most important question - is the state planning to come up with a good report on what caused this tragedy? Was it nature's fury or where they faulty procedures also which triggered the calamity?

There is also complete silence from the state's finance minister who is supposed to be a skilled economist. What is the current financial position of KL? How much money does KL have to spare to help her citizens? If there is a short fall of funds, how is it going to be mitigated? What are the long term and short term plans to rejuvenate KL's economy? All I heard was about increasing liquor costs & introducing a new lottery . As per a news report; the unofficial amount of losses is now pegged at Rs. 35,000 crores. The state's financial position allows expenditure of Rs. 29150 crores. For many state projects centre provides the funds, which is estimated at around Rs. 8 crore. Both these funds added; would only be just allowing the state to cover up the losses. There would not be any thing left to restart the economy.

So the Rs. 700 crores aid from UAE was non-existent and even if it was provided it would be to the CM Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF). And compared to the estimated damage of Rs 35000 crores is a drop in the bucket.

This aid episode has revealed the venomous snakes crossbred with pythons to swallow the aid.
Sachin thanks for putting the things in perspective.

I heard that Kerala annual budget was 3x of the damage.
Is this true?

[UlanBatori]

My question is why the commies are underestimating the damage so much. 35000 crores is roughly 0.5 x 1000 crore dollars = 5000 million = 5 billion, hain? FIVE BILLION when practically 2/3 of a State goes under mud? you got to be kidding. They must mean only the govt./Party infra damage, not people's losses. There is no way to clean up and rebuild all losses (not counting the lives) for that kind of change. My estimate is at least $50B. KL construction costs are comparable to US. Just the number of Beamers and Lexuses and Mercedes swept away must run into a fair number of $M. I think they are hiding the damage because when people come at them for compensation for the dam booboo, they don't want them to be able to quote govt. figures.

[UlanBatori]

I know it!!! 35,000 crores is the "Nokku Kooli". That's all the commies "earn" anyway, sitting and watching other work and extorting money from them.

[ramana]

Two officials arrested for embezzling supplies

https://twitter.com/orsoraggiante/statu ... 62464?s=19

[UlanBatori]

From the above:

According to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, the number of relief camps has come down from 3,314 to 2,774 and they now house 1 million people, down from the earlier 1.2 million as the water has started receding.

1.2 million people in DP camps. An average loss of $1000 each amounts to $1.2B. OK some ppl may not have had a lot, but many did. But look at those submerged towns: the loss is immense. What does it cost to feed 1.2 million for say 4 weeks until they can get back on their feet? (they may not eat a lot, but how many baboon are needed to organize the effort?) I think every plantain field is wiped out; most paddy fields may be washed away, large percentage of coconut trees may be ruined; mango trees ruined, vegetable crops ruined (pulses are grown on elaborate light-weight structures, all presumed washed away). Mattresses rendered unusable (filled with filthy water). Many houses have ruined/dangerous electrical wiring; meters flooded. airconditioners ruined. Refrigerators ruined. Expensive living room furniture, display cases, all ruined. TVs ruined (fortunately many are LED/LCD, may survive better than CRTs). Number of trees uprooted is immense. COK airport's solar farm may have suffered huge damage. Runways damaged.
Rail tracks have huge gaps at most culverts. Floods washed away the soil and the stones under the tracks. Bridges gone. Road bridges down. Roads severely damaged.

Wonder what happened to banks, clothing stores (entire inventory trashed?) bakeries, vegetable shops, meat shops in the towns which got submerged, such as chalakudy?

[Dileep]

When the govt talks about losses, it only considers stuff for it is liable (and money could be siphoned off)

A lot of things are left out from the (shanghai) statistics, probably because those are not the govt's liability.

1. So called luxury items (car, tv, air conditioner, leather sofa etc)
2. Non essential personal items, like the expensive orchid/rose plants in your garden.
3. House cleaning and repair that is DIY.

Essentially, the govt will help you to get back on the feet (if you need help). It will not help you to get back to your old life. That is your problem. It is the same everywhere, including the first world.

[UlanBatori]

Insurance may be the difference. Major lesson for Malloostan. But in Malloostan many such things are not reportable anywhere so may not be listed in insurance for fear of Tax Bibi.

[SaiK]

nokku kooli is a curse for malloostan. it is irritating this still exists anywhere in India whatsoever.

[ramana]

From WhatsApp:



She is Anupama, IAS,
District Collector of Thrissur,
Kerala.

Two days back relief materials which included one ton rice and other grains had arrived st Thrissur.


The problems of storage was discussed and it was decided that the Hall in the Bar Council of Thrissur would be the best place for storing these items.

Talks were held repeatedly with the bar council members and advocates but they adamantly refused to let the relief materials to be stored there.

Anupama then issued notice to the bar council and broke open the doors and kept all the relief materials inside and locked it.

She took this action under the NDRF act 2005, sections 34-H/J/M.

The protesting advocates were stunned by her action. The funny aspect was that even these advocates did not know that such act existed.

Hats off to Anupama

[Sachin]

So the Rs. 700 crores aid from UAE was non-existent and even if it was provided it would be to the CM Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF). And compared to the estimated damage of Rs 35000 crores is a drop in the bucket. This aid episode has revealed the venomous snakes crossbred with pythons to swallow the aid.

Yes. Who ever tried that cheap trick was trying to black mail the GoI and get more funds. Even the UAE's 700 crores would not make much difference when it comes to getting Kerala back into shape. Any ways, this issue has now died and which ever Keralite dreamt of KL being the 8th Emirate has now gone back to saluting the Indian national flag.

I heard that Kerala annual budget was 3x of the damage.

I don't have the exact figures. But the way the state has been asking for loans, does not give a very good picture. First was the 2500 crore loan for celebrating a festival (Onam), and now she plans to take Rs. 3,000 crore loan from World Bank to rebuild herself. And this is even after trying all means (some of them being outright blackmail) to get more money from the central government.

Rail tracks have huge gaps at most culverts. Floods washed away the soil and the stones under the tracks. Bridges gone. Road bridges down. Roads severely damaged.

All railway lines are now 100% operational now. The railways own staff completed all the work in war footing. They did not ask any help from the state government. The NHAI folks have also got the main trunk roads (eg: Kuthiran ghat area) etc. back to shape. The national Power Transmission Corporation is working on fixing the electrical problems at the state.

Insurance may be the difference. Major lesson for Malloostan. But in Malloostan many such things are not reportable anywhere so may not be listed in insurance for fear of Tax Bibi.

Insuring homes etc. is actually a very "unknown" concept in many parts of India, and Kerala. Remember even LIC's insurance policies were given to people mainly as a "tax saver", and not show cased for its actual purpose. I don't think even the big bunglaows made out of Gelf money have insurance. The poorer strata of the society would only have felt such things as unneccessary. Kerala's economy was mainly cash based. Now people of all hues & shades in Kerala would look up to one "Insurance Company" who they hope would give them what ever is required; that is Govt. of Kerala.

Rs. 10,000 per family is what GoKL is now providing as immediate relief for people moving out of the relief camps. It is said that this is a "temporary" fund, so it is not clear if this is a one time settlement. Mean while the CM's relief fund has exceeded Rs. 700 crore, the amount which the UAE Sheikh was "believed to have promised" .

Essentially, the govt will help you to get back on the feet (if you need help). It will not help you to get back to your old life. That is your problem. It is the same everywhere, including the first world.

Exactly. But I think there is also a widespread belief that some one else (either GoKL or GoI) would pump in truck loads of money, and every person affected would get all the funds to get back to the old way of life. And I am also expecting lots of "passing the buck" to happen between GoKL and GoI when it comes to money. GoI has now become stricter on accounts and fiscal management so a "blank cheque" is not going to be given any ways. GoKL would also be hesitant to reveal its sad financial position.

Kerala state was actually on a big bubble, and politicians (mainly communists) used to sit on this bubble and call every other state as paupers. Kerala's economy was always "money order" economy, and the visible richness seen in the state was mainly due to the foreign remittances. Big homes, big cars and affluent life styles all were made through foreign remittances made through very many years. This style of living actually did not improve the state's financials. All these remittances did not lead to the state having more money to play around with. Now the bubble is burst. The current amount of foreign remittances will not be able to rebuild the state quickly. And when the people look up to the government (and the communists), they are also going to raise empty hands and say that as a state Kerala is broke.

Centre rejects Kerala's demand for subsidised kerosene. GoKL will have to procure Kerosene at market rates, and looks like she wants the subsidy to come from central government. The state does not have any money to spare.

[Sachin]

A very sensible article, bringing out another impending problem. Mental stress & dis-orders
People facing high mental stress post-floods.
"People will face a major challenge when they return to their houses after witnessing the flood that ravaged their earnings and hopes. Adaptive skill, the ability to manage disaster, is less for Keralites when compared to others,” said experts. In northern states, people are always ready to face natural calamities. People who have experienced such disasters will easily overcome it. But for Keralites, the flood was a shocking experience."

After seeing a lot of negative comments from Keralites, about North India and its people in general, the above paragraph was a different experience to read. At least some one have started to appreciate the harsher conditions in which many other Indians live, and how these people also do not whine and quickly adapt and recover. There is a lot to learn from Indians from every state.

PS: A relative of mine from DeraThreeShivas had mentioned about the watchman/caretaker at his apartment complex. Once the floods started he was missing from duty. His home was up in the hills near a dam. Last Friday he had turned up for work, and the change in him was very visible. He was drunk, and he was also too grief stricken. His home was completely wiped out, and he also lost some animals. All important documentation was lost. At his age, he cannot quickly rebuild all that he has lost, and this was stressing him out . There could be 100s of people in similar conditions.

[A_Gupta]

Some flood visualization:
https://twitter.com/mdmadhusudan/status ... 0234756096
"To visualise and estimate flooding extent in the #KeralaFloods, I made a web app on Google #EarthEngine using #Sentinel1 radar imagery. For each taluk, the app shows location and extent of flooding in relation to human settlements. https://goo.gl/5Lk3TL @EarthOutreach @ESA_EO"

Video at link above.

[chetak]

A very sensible article, bringing out another impending problem. Mental stress & dis-orders
People facing high mental stress post-floods.
"People will face a major challenge when they return to their houses after witnessing the flood that ravaged their earnings and hopes. Adaptive skill, the ability to manage disaster, is less for Keralites when compared to others,” said experts. In northern states, people are always ready to face natural calamities. People who have experienced such disasters will easily overcome it. But for Keralites, the flood was a shocking experience."

After seeing a lot of negative comments from Keralites, about North India and its people in general, the above paragraph was a different experience to read. At least some one have started to appreciate the harsher conditions in which many other Indians live, and how these people also do not whine and quickly adapt and recover. There is a lot to learn from Indians from every state.

PS: A relative of mine from DeraThreeShivas had mentioned about the watchman/caretaker at his apartment complex. Once the floods started he was missing from duty. His home was up in the hills near a dam. Last Friday he had turned up for work, and the change in him was very visible. He was drunk, and he was also too grief stricken. His home was completely wiped out, and he also lost some animals. All important documentation was lost. At his age, he cannot quickly rebuild all that he has lost, and this was stressing him out . There could be 100s of people in similar conditions.

Sachin saar,

People facing high mental stress post-floods.

It is more of PTSD and it is a condition that is largely unrecognized/unacknowledged by many organisations as well as doctors and other health professionals who really ought to know better.

It all gets lumped under a meaningless socially benign and also socially accepted catchall phrase of "mental stress" and is not considered worthy of medical treatment or even alleviation because, after all "mental stress" is a passing and a transient phase whereas PTSD is very much more insidious and long lasting with adverse outcomes and progresses rapidly if left untreated.

It is just like socially accepted drug abuse/dependency when using tobacco or alcohol. Very few people can and actually do practise moderation and yet the dangerous and the often irreparable effects of both drugs are there for all to see.

[nam]

KL at present has severe shortage of electricians, plumbers etc. etc.

This is an important issue. Anyone with decent professional skill would have moved out of the state to Gulf or Indian metro cities. Needless to say, the ones who could not would be looked down up in normal times. I have seen this in my hometown( not Kerala) as well.

It creates a big problem, when tragedy hits the place.

There have been stories about villages in other part of the country, where young men move out in search of jobs, leaving behind a village of older parents. When a natural calamity hits, there are no young people left to help.

[Dileep]

Heard an incident I heard from my colleague. His SHQ is a teacher, and a counselor. So, she works full time with the displaced people at Chengannur.

There was this young couple with two kids. One is two months and the other two years. They came late evening to home, and was not aware of the flood. Their house flooded in the night, and they were stuck in the single storey home. All neighbours had left, thinking that these people are not in station, so they were all alone and scared.

Water was upto almost chest level. They realized that they may be able to save themselves, but saving the children along will be impossible. So, the man proposes that they commit suicide :nuts:

It took an hour for the man to convince the lady, but by the time water reached neck level. So she gave up and agreed to go.

They submerged themselves, but naturally survival instinct kicked in and they had to come up and breathe. At the very moment they heard shouting and a light. A rescue boat was approaching. They frantically called out and got rescued into a camp.

But.. the lady had gone psychotic. She believes she is dead, and refuse to eat/drink, and worse, feed the baby.

With lot of counseling, she has come to the level of allowing the baby to be fed. This report is as on Sunday.

[rsingh]

Very sad affair Saar. May God give them strength. A man preparing family for sucide, is most difficult thing to do. One can only imagine desperation. Could you please provide me acc number for donation ( one that has no connection with political or religious thugs. Going to move Indian community for donations .

[UlanBatori]

From WhatsApp:
She took this action under the NDRF act 2005, sections 34-H/J/M.

Can u pls send this to me on WhatsApp? Thx.
Suggested next locations for emergency storage:
1) LIC office
2) State Bank of India office
3) "Rama Nilayam" Ophishial VIP Guest House. I bet they haven't budged one bit, they have fabulous spacious grounds etc.
4) Municipal/ Corporashun Office. OK, will have to displace tens of thousands of rats, 4-legged and 2-legged.

[Sachin]

• Flood losses more than estimated earlier: CM....... He did not reveal any updated figures.
• Govt plans to approach World Bank for Rs 3000 crore loan. The loan is for 3000 crores, but would'nt a Central Govt. approval required in such a case? Who will stand as guarantor for the loan? It would be better for Kerala Fin.Min to clearly come out with the current budget/financial position of Kerala. He generally does not do that, and is always seen asking for more money.
• Accepting foreign aid for relief work is not honourable: E Sreedharan. And from now on the "Metro man" would be labelled as a Hindu fascist, anti-poor and anti-state (i.e against Kerala) person.
• Germany trip: Public censure for K Raju. The Communist Party of India (CPI); for sure has some sense of black humour. This "national party" with its one Lok Sabha MP, is now trying to come up with some gimmicks to help the minister. This minister had escaped to Germany when he fully knew that KL was flooding and he was the nominated minister for Kottayam district.

[UlanBatori]

Re: Anupama Bibi:

"She was Collector of Alappuzha. Her tough stand against Minister Thomas Chandy forced him to resign. TC had used govt. funds to build a road to his resort, which was built on land reclaimed illegally by filling backwaters.
So they moved her to (Dera 3shivnaam)."

The woman clearly has a problem. She seems to think the Constitution is more important than the Communist Party Manifesto, or what?

[UlanBatori]

More on Anupama Bibi from UBCN's Sources, impeccable as always:

Product of BITS Pilani where she went after Plus-2 at Dera3shivnaam. Sprang into limelight when as Food Commissioner, she took action against prominent brands such as "Nirapara" for adulterating curry powder.
Staff wept when she was transferred.

Both the ones she left and I bet the ones in Dera3shivNaam who were going to feel the Slippers On The Musharraf...

[ramana]

I think we should concentrate on process and individuals. Rest of the crew could also be exercising their due powers.

BTW,

Kerala annual budget

Rs 1,19,601 Cr to be precise.

Link:
https://kerala.gov.in/documents/10180/0 ... ced53775c3

AP and Telangana have similar budgets with larger population about 5 crore versus Kerala population is 3.5 crore.

Next annual remittances from expatriates:


In 2017, Kerala received Rs 90,000 Cr remittances. Making it 35% of state income

That is Rs 26,000 for every Keralaite (3.48 cr population).

“Kerala doesn’t need any money from outside. They can simply replenish with just 4 months of remittances”.

Real help is required for poorer Indians.

So this AID is all bokwas.

[ramana]

A ground report on #KodaguFloods

https://twitter.com/TheSignOfFive/statu ... 87457?s=19

[UlanBatori]

Terrific. Small peeve: is it just the Internet in Ulan Bator, or does the SWaas (Secure, Scalable and Sugamya Website as a service) take forever to load?

http://www.kodagu.nic.in/

GIGW Compliance
Compliant with mandatoryguidelines from the compliance matrix of GIGW
Unified Open Source Technology
Complete SaaS solution, built upon cutting edge Open Source technology stacks

Very pretty. But does not load.Which makes it rather difficult to download the Disaster Manual.

Very heartwarming stories. Administration apparently clueless and helpless, website manuals notwithstanding. Sad.
Looting problems exist; law response not good. About the only way is to bring in heliborne troops, but if they are needed for search and rescue, it is tough.

[Sachin]

News round up from Kerala.
1. Preparation for reopening the Sabarimala temple, After this help of the army opens door. The CPI(M) led Kerala Govt., has found a new found love for Sabari Mala. This is the same government which did not support the temple's unique customs & traditions. Now the government is trying to get the temple opened for pilgrimage at a war footing. Even Army Engineers have been requested to help. The reason is obvious; Kerala Govt. desperately wants the money donated by pilgrims (mostly from outside the state). The same government have also ordered (via Malabar Devaswom Board) that all temples under them have to put in Rs. 1 lakh from the funds received from the devotees.
2. 'Main reason for Kerala floods is bad weather forecasting’: E Sreedharan.In an interview to media persons, he even emphasised that Rs 700 crore was nothing to the centre which has a budget of Rs 12 lakh crore.
3. Metro Man E Sreedharan Slams Kerala Aid ‘Mongers’: No Pride In Begging For Foreign Donations. After this post E.Sreedharan is now slowly being given the award of Sanghi (Hindu right winger). Any body who does not totally agree with GoKL and what the main stream media writes about are now eligible for cyber bullying, and if really lucky a benefited with a police case as well .

[Sachin]

World Bank nod to Kerala’s loan request.

• Money will be given for the schemes of drinking water, drainage, education and transport facilities. {How much of funding is required in these areas needs to be evaluated}
• The state has to formulate the schemes. It should also get the schemes approved by the Centre. {So this again is no free money with no checks after fund disbursal. Central Govt. approval is required}
• Another thing that Kerala must do to get the financial assistance from the World Bank is to increase the limit of the loan amount. Currently, the state can take only 3 per cent of the domestic production..{The 3% ceiling is set based on a law/Act, and amending it for a specific state would again require Central Govt. consensus and Parliamentary approvals}

---
Don't know if such news reports are a case of "jumping the gun", as there would be many more deliberations before the final modalities are ironed out. There has to be a gurantor for this loan, and who would it be? The central government's approval is needed in almost all the steps. With GoKL generally averse to submit detailed plans & budgets etc; it needs to be watched how much quick approvals would come from GoI.

[UlanBatori]

They will submit detailed plans and budgets no problem. The reports will state that all objectives are met. All happy. What actually happens on the ground level is a different matter. We r talking about a system that has very long experience. E. Sridharan's problem is that he takes pride in actually getting stuff done, under budget and above specs. Totally "foreign" to commies and congis and other politicians in KL alike.

[Dilbu]

One of the malayalam dailies had reported that IB has launched an investigation into sedition related messages that appeared in social media. I have created a cache of screenshots of such messages and shall happily cooperate with this investigation.

Good to see you. How are you?

Ramanaji I am good. Still in gelf shuttling between two countries, so time for BRF has gone down drastically. Will pop up once in a while for Oxygen.

Not sure if anyone has pointed this out here before. All the money now getting collected for relief and reconstruction efforts is going into Chief Minister's distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). This fund can be utilised according to the discretion of Chief Minister. There has been many instances in the past where this fund was used arbitrarily to provide money to party supporters for political reasons. The latest example will be 25 lakhs provided as 'relief' by Pinarayi Vijayan to the family of the MLA from Chenagnnoor, Mr. Uzhavoor Vijayan, when he passed away. It was also reported that the relief fund for Ockhi cyclone victims was used to pay the bills of helicopter used by the CM to attend a CPI(M) party conference. This decision was later reversed when a controversy erupted around it. So this is a lot of money going into an account with a shady past.

A PIL has been filed in Kerala High Court asking for the funds earmarked for flood relief to be moved to a separate account for this specific purpose. The Hon.High Court has requested the govt to file its reply on Friday.

[Sachin]

News round up..
Basic framework developed for rebuilding Kerala. There is also a plan of "Kerala Rebuild" bonds.
Govt orders for no-construction at landslide, mudflow hit areas. I don't know how effective this orders would be, because there have been instances when hotels were built on encroached lands, even when the Dist. Collector issued a "stop memo".
Centre to consider Kerala demand to enhance borrowing limit. A fresh memorandum with the latest data on the loss needs to be submitted.

A PIL has been filed in Kerala High Court asking for the funds earmarked for flood relief to be moved to a separate account for this specific purpose. The Hon.High Court has requested the govt to file its reply on Friday.

To be very frank, I am also not very convinced the way the financial demands are being raised. Right from the start of the tragedy, the focus was also on demanding "ready cash" payments. Central Govt. has clearly said that the "Direct Benefit Transfer" approach would be used. KL government had said that they would be giving Rs.10,000 for every family moving out of the relief camps. Now if GoKL plans to distribute the funds it has received in ready cash, this may be easily doable. But if this benefit also has to be done via banks it would be a challenge. No bank account details were collected at the refugee camps, and so as of today GoKL will not know to which accounts money have to be transferred to. And if they make ready cash payments; then most likely the money would only reach "communist refugees".

But we must accept the support main stream media is giving GoKL. It has been coming up with news items after news items which helps in deflecting all problems faced in the rehabilitation. 100% literate Malayali crowd would soon once again be on the look out for lynchings in UP, statements made by Tripura CM and lack of toilets in northern India.

[chetak]

nokku kooli??


twitter

Women empowerment by Congress during #KeralaFloodRelief

[chetak]

[Sachin]

All-party delegation meets Rajnath; Seeks more funds for flood-hit Kerala.
According to a preliminary estimate, the loss and damage due to the rain fury was Rs 20,000 crore, but Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said it would be much more.

[rsingh]

nokku kooli??


twitter

Women empowerment by Congress during #KeralaFloodRelief

What exactly is going on here? Why these pahlwans are not doing the needful? is it some ground breaking ceremony?

[ramana]

No its "Woman working and Congress leaders watching!"
Look how spotless their white lungis are.

AK Anthony used to pride himself on his white spotless lungi.
It was spotless as he did nothing.
Same hamartia.

[ramana]

Sachin,
I would Anupama IAS in charge of the funds disbursement.
Make her special commissioner for relief.
She has proven track record of honesty and getting things done.
Not to mention standing up to political leaders.

[Sachin]

Now it is time to hear the opinions of the CPI(M) politicians from Kerala, naturally a 100% liberal, secular & progressive state (not to forget 100% literacy).
Environmental Conservation No Solution To Natural Disaster, Nobody Has Control Over Fate Says Kerala CPM MLA.
This MLA is stated to be the person who allowed maximum encroachments in sensitive environment. His fellow comrade, M.M Mani is also the minister in charge of Kerala State Electricity Board. M.M Mani too is 100% literate with his studies ending at 4th standard.

A blog, which too covers some points which shows Kerala (and its politicians-intellectuals, and not the people) in a very poor light. Greed for easy money seems to be a big problem.
How Kerala damaged its reputation and national conversation around calamities with petulant behaviour.

PS: Gents, this is not to belittle any one. But I have been - for a very long time - hearing about this 100% literacy and the intellectual superiority of my fellow Malayali brethren. The above links may help you to figure out what this 100% literacy is all about. A goon & idiot would remain the same, even if he can read the destination boards shown on a bus.

[jpremnath]

Sachin,
I would Anupama IAS in charge of the funds disbursement.
Make her special commissioner for relief.
She has proven track record of honesty and getting things done.
Not to mention standing up to political leaders.

It is not only Anupama...of late there has been a slew of amazing young IAS and IPS aaffsers ( OT: Hari Sankar and Thomson Jose, both batchmates from college are now SPs and gives me constant goose bumps whenver they are in news)who has brought a refreshing change in civil service of the state...Their activities is always in the limelight and has forced even the others to smarten up and bring their A game ..
The old dogs (like Tom jose and Sooraj) remain the same of course...

[Sachin]

News round up..

• CMDRF crosses Rs 1000 crore. And this also makes the "UAE offer" gimmick now totally useless. Indians themselves have contributed much more.
• Ministers to visit foreign countries to raise fund to rebuild Kerala. Yes, this is a golden opportunity to go on world tours (even though some critics may call it - "going with a begging bowl"). Expert advice on foreign countries can be given by Herr Raju (minister from CPI) who had escaped to Germany, when flood had hit Kottayam Dt, South Kerala.
• Reliance Foundation hands over Rs 21 cr for Kerala relief. With this the communists have decided to take back the certificate of "bourgeois capitalist" to Reliance. They are now part of the proletriate. Only Adani still retains the title of "bourgeois capitalist". Hope he pays up soon.

With the threat of floods and land slides now non-existent, the true colours of the various key players in Kerala would now be revealed.

[habal]

a lot of other colours are revealing also in the meanwhile. In an interesting development, amazon has stopped taking orders from *flood affected pin codes* in kerala. So kind of them to help flood affected by stopping all orders when someone would have needed it most. And at the same time giving prominent space on their site to *donate to kerala* banner exposing their duplicity thoroughly since not a single penny of that is going to any victims. Should read *donate to worldvision scam* or some such. Well done amazon. *slow clap*. So amazon allows orders from trivandrum, quilon, palakkad, Calicut, Kannur, kasargod, but restricts anyone who tries to order from malappuram, wynad, trichur, ernakulam, allepey, kottayam, pathanamthitta, idukki. Basically all the flood affected districts.

flipkart started taking orders from all pin codes as usual. Desi akhir desi hota hain. Down with MNCs.

[chetak]

meanwhile in an interesting development, amazon has stopped taking orders from *flood affected pin codes* in kerala. So kind of them to help flood affected by stopping all orders when someone would have needed it most. Well done amazon. *slow clap*. So amazon allows orders from trivandrum, quilon, palakkad, Calicut, Kannur, kasargod, but restricts anyone who tries to order from malappuram, wynad, trichur, ernakulam, allepey, kottayam, pathanamthitta, idukki. Basically all the flood affected districts.

flipkart started taking orders from all pin codes as usual. Desi akhir apna hota hain.

amazon and world vision are connected via jeff bezos.

be careful when dealing with one or the other.

[sum]

•Reliance Foundation hands over Rs 21 cr for Kerala relief. With this the communists have decided to take back the certificate of "bourgeois capitalist" to Reliance. They are now part of the proletriate. Only Adani still retains the title of "bourgeois capitalist". Hope he pays up soon.

All the "non-political" messages from nearly 90% of my Mallu friends on their FB etc is changed to:
"Shame on Modi. Pvt sector donated more" and then link to such articles.