Wayanad rehabilitation: No assistance from the Centre yet, says Chief Minister
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that while no assistance has come from the Centre till date for rehabilitation of survivors of Wayanad landslide, Rs 712.98 received in the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund will be used for helping the survivors.
Vijayan said that the state had initially demanded a sum of Rs 2,221 crore for the landslide rehabilitation from the Centre, but as per the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report, more is expected.
"As the Union Government declared Wayanad landslide as a 'disaster of severe nature' MPs from across the country can contribute up to a sum of Rs 1 crore and I have already written to all MPs in the country seeking help," he added.
The CM was replying to a query raised by UDF MLA Kurukkoli Moideen during the question hour in the Legislative Assembly, on the amount received for the Wayanad package.
Vijayan assured that the funds received in the CMDRF will be utilised for the benefit of the disaster survivors and the rehabilitation process would be completed soon.
He also said a sum of Rs 15 lakh each will be given to the persons who wish to stay outside the proposed townships.
Another issue raised by the UDF opposition was the alleged non-receipt of the treatment cost by those who sustained severe injuries in the landslides, even after six months of the disaster, and demanded immediate action in this regard.
Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan also said that 'uncertainty' prevails on the amount of Rs 30 lakh fixed for the proposed houses and the amount should be finalised to complete the rehabilitation process soon.
Replying to the issues raised by the opposition, Vijayan assured that immediate action would be taken.
He also said that the Cabinet has decided to take over the land for rehabilitation within 61 days.
"Several houses will be constructed simultaneously in the rehabilitation project and we estimate around Rs 30 lakh for the houses and a final decision has not been taken so far," he said.
The government published a draft list of the disaster-affected families to be rehabilitated in the houses in the proposed township and a final list is expected soon, he added.
"Co-ordinated efforts of various government departments are underway for the rehabilitation programme," he said. Funds from CMDRF, SDRF, various sponsorships, CSR funds and assistance from the Centre would be utilized for this, CM said.
The Cabinet decided on a rehabilitation project for building model townships on 58.50 hectares in Elstone Estate in Kalpetta and 48.96 hectares in Nedumpala Estate in Meppadi panchayat in Wayanad district for the survivors of the devastating July 30 landslides, he said.
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New Delhi-based short film 'Anuja' earns nomination for Best Live Action Short at Oscars 2025
New Delhi, Jan 23 (PTI): "Anuja", a New Delhi-set short film, on Thursday bagged a nomination in the Live Action Short category at the 97th Academy Awards.
"Anuja", directed by Adam J Graves and Suchitra Mattai, is pitted against “A Lien”,“I’m Not a Robot”, “The Last Ranger” and “The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent” at the awards gala.
The nominations for the 2025 Oscars, which were twice postponed earlier this month due to wildfires in Los Angeles, were announced by Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott.
"Anuja" follows a gifted nine-year-old Anuja, who must make a choice between education and factory work alongside her sister - a decision that will shape both their futures. It stars Sajda Pathan and Ananya Shanbhag.
The film has two-time Oscar winning producer Guneet Monga on board as executive producer and Hollywood star-writer Mindy Kaling as producer.
It is produced in collaboration with the Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT), a nonprofit founded by filmmaker Mira Nair's family in support of street and working children, alongside Shine Global, and Krushan Naik Films.
Recently, actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas boarded the project as an executive producer.
Besides "Anuja", "I Am Ready, Warden" is another movie with an India connect.
Nominated in the Documentary Short Film category, the film is directed by Indian-origin American filmmaker Smriti Mundhra.
"I Am Ready, Warden" is about Texas death row prisoner John Henry Ramirez who seeks redemption from his victim’s son in the days leading up to his execution in 2022.
The film is produced by Mundhra, Maya Gnyp, Keri Blakinger and Nina Anand Aujla.
Other nominees in the Documentary Short Film category are "Death by Numbers”,
"Incident”, “Instruments of a Beating Heart” and “The Only Girl in the Orchestra”.
Mundhra was earlier nominated in the same category for her film "St. Louis Superman" at the 2019 Oscars.
Many in India were looking out for Payal Kapadia's critically-acclaimed film "All We Imagine As Light" to bag a nomination at the Oscars but that didn't happen.
The film, which was overlooked as India's official entry in the Best International Feature category of the Oscars, charted history by becoming the first Indian title to win the Grand Prix Award at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024.
"All We Imagine As Light" is nominated for the Best Film Not in English Language at the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards.
The 2025 Academy Awards will be held on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Anuja has been nominated for the 97th Oscars in the Live Action Short Film category! ✨
— IMDb India (@IMDb_in) January 23, 2025
The movie follows 9-year-old Anuja, a gifted girl working in a garment factory in Delhi. When she’s given a rare chance to go to school, she faces a life-changing decision—one that could… pic.twitter.com/4U4pWAi2TK
