Kerala Assembly unanimously passes resolution against Centre delaying aid to Wayanad
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 14: The Kerala Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on Monday against the Central government's delay in extending aid to the landslide-hit Wayanad.
The substantive motion was presented by Parliamentary Affairs Minister M B Rajesh at the outset of an adjournment discussion in the House on the matter.
In the resolution, the minister said a memorandum had already been submitted to the Centre detailing the destruction suffered during the landslides that had affected Chooralmala, Mundakkai and Punchirimattom areas in Meppadi panchayat of Wayanad on July 30.
No immediate assistance has been received so far, and the delay in receiving Central aid would adversely impact the rehabilitation of landslide survivors, the minister pointed out.
The resolution demanded that the Centre take steps to provide immediate financial assistance and completely write off the bank loans of those affected by the landslides.
Noting that it was one of the worst landslide tragedies ever reported in the country, the minister said it had devastated an entire area in the hill district.
After the unprecedented tragedy, the state has approached the Centre seeking financial assistance for necessary rehabilitation initiatives, he said.
A similar request was made to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the landslide-hit areas and in a personal letter, the minister explained.
As per the norms of the National Disaster Management Act, the landslide that occurred in Meppadi was classified as a 'disaster of severe nature,' he said.
"Many other states that have faced natural calamities have received assistance without even a memorandum. It is regrettable that Kerala did not receive this consideration," Rajesh said.
In the resolution, the minister pointed out that the National Disaster Management Authority has the authority to write off the loans of disaster survivors. To exercise this power, the Centre must make the necessary interventions, he added.
Later, Speaker A N Shamseer announced that the House unanimously passed the resolution.
Responding to the debate in the Assembly, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed dismay over the delay in sanctioning Central assistance to the landslide-hit Wayanad, despite a detailed memorandum being submitted to the Union government in accordance with the necessary criteria.
Vijayan said that the disaster-hit areas had suffered damage amounting to Rs 1,200 crore across various sectors, according to the preliminary assessment.
A memorandum requesting additional assistance from the Centre for the State Disaster Relief Fund was submitted to the Union government and directly handed over to PM Modi on August 27, he said.
A detailed memorandum, prepared in accordance with Central criteria, had also been submitted on August 17, he added.
Even after the submission of the detailed memorandum, no special financial assistance, typically granted in the event of a disaster, has been provided to Wayanad so far, the chief minister said.
The state's special representative in New Delhi, K V Thomas, and the state disaster management secretary had held discussions with the Union Finance Minister and the Union Home Ministry, respectively.
Vijayan recalled that the state had previously faced unfortunate instances of not receiving adequate Central assistance during disasters.
He emphasised the importance of avoiding a repeat of such neglect in the case of Wayanad and added, "We still remain hopeful of receiving assistance from the Centre."
Leader of Opposition, V D Satheesan, termed the delay in providing Central assistance to Wayanad a "serious matter".
"It is a serious matter that no Central assistance has been received to date. What kind of neglect is the Centre showing? While assistance was given to other states, Kerala has not been granted even temporary relief," he said.
"When a calamity occurs, the Central government has an obligation to provide funds to the state to help the victims. The state government should also intensify its pressure on the Centre for that," he said.
When the LoP offered full support to the government in implementing the rehabilitation of landslide victims, the CM expressed happiness over the offer and said, "Let everyone work together for these hapless people."
The discussion saw the Union government coming under fire from both the treasury and opposition benches for not providing any financial assistance for the rehabilitation of landslide survivors in Wayanad, even months after PM Modi's visit.
While the UDF, which moved the motion, accused Modi of visiting the disaster-hit region for a "photo shoot," the LDF said that in a federal democratic system, it is the moral responsibility of the Central government to provide money for rehabilitation during the time of such a disaster.
Moving the adjournment motion, T Siddique (Congress) recalled that PM Modi had visited the landslide-hit hamlets of Wayanad, met the survivors, and called on the injured persons at the hospital.
The MLA said the PM had spent one and a half hours more than the scheduled time in Wayanad and assured during the high-level meeting that the Centre would be with the state in the rehabilitation initiatives.
"For the rehabilitation, we need at least Rs 2000 crore. Now, the landslide survivors ask whether PM Modi had visited Wayanad for a photo shoot," the legislator said.
Former Health Minister K K Shailaja stressed the need to launch united agitations inside and outside the House against the Centre's continuing neglect towards Wayanad.
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Consumer Affairs Minister Joshi slams air purifier firms for false claims ahead of pollution season
New Delhi, Oct 14: Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday criticised air purifier manufacturers for making false claims about their products, and called for increased consumer awareness ahead of winter when air pollution worsens in Delhi due to crop stubble burning in neighbouring states.
Addressing an event commemorating World Standards Day, Joshi expressed concern over misleading marketing tactics adopted by some air purifier companies.
"Discussion on air pollution has begun. Looking at Air Quality Index (AQI) on mobiles, people out of fear, go and buy air purifiers. Air purifiers make such false claims. ...We see air purifiers and so much is written but nothing is there in it. There is just a fan in it, yet claims are still made," the minister stated.
Joshi called for a collaborative approach involving the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the consumer affairs ministry and consumers to address the issue.
While praising the BIS for their "exceptionally wonderful job" in recent years, the minister emphasized that more needs to be done.
"I do not blame BIS for this. BIS in the last few years has done an exceptionally wonderful job. But both BIS and the consumer affairs ministry and consumers together need to create awareness. It is important, and I strongly feel (this way)," the minister said stressing the collective responsibility in combating misleading product claims.
He emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring every Indian has access to safe, reliable, and high-quality products and services.
These comments come as concerns grow about air quality in major Indian cities and expansion of the air purifier market.
Joshi also announced plans to make BIS standards mandatory for public procurement on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal. "BIS standards are partially implemented on GeM. We'll try to make it mandatory."
The minister highlighted the government's focus on quality standards, noting that Cabinet proposals now include global standard notes.
"These days, the tradition has started in the Union Cabinet. Wherever a bill to be introduced in Parliament comes before the Cabinet, the global standard note comes with it. That has been made mandatory for the Cabinet," he said.
This note mentions which countries perform best in the particular field, rules and how India can achieve it. "So, we have to match every Cabinet note with the global standards. This helps our government to make decisions to set high standards whether it is quality infrastructure or urban metro trains."
Implementation of standards at national level has been given a top priority by the government and is actively bringing more products under mandatory quality controls, he said.
He said that over 22,300 standards are currently in force, with 94 per cent harmonized with international standards. The number of Quality Control Orders has risen from 14 (covering 106 products) in 2014 to 174 (covering 732 products) now.
Also, 94 per cent of Indian Standards are harmonised with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
Joshi stressed the interdependence of consumers and producers in fostering a quality ecosystem. He urged the BIS to take on more leadership roles in international standardization and fast-track the development of new standards.
World Standards Day, observed annually on October 14, aims to raise awareness about standards and their role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
