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The Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal in a meeting with the food processing industry leaders to request assistance for people of Kerala, in New Delhi on August 20, 2018.

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The Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal in a meeting with the food processing industry leaders to request assistance for people of Kerala, in New Delhi on August 20, 2018.
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...ells-centre/article24754864.ece?homepage=true
August 23, 2018 00:04 IST
Updated: August 23, 2018 00:15 IST

The Kerala government has asked the Centre to go by the 2016 National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) while taking a call on the UAE government’s offer of ₹700 crore in assistance or compensate the State for the loss of such a hefty sum.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had welcomed the UAE government making the ₹700 crore offer. It is only natural for nations to help each other. Moreover, the National Disaster Management Plan, brought out by the Central government in May 2016, does state clearly that any voluntary offer of assistance from other countries can be accepted,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told a news conference here on Wednesday.

Vijayan for talks

While Mr. Vijayan said the the State would try to resolve the issue through discussions, if necessary with the Prime Minister himself, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac tweeted that the Centre must either accept the UAE’s offer or compensate the State.

The relevant section of the chapter on ‘International Cooperation’ of the NDMP reads: “As a matter of policy, the Government of India does not issue any appeal for foreign assistance in the wake of a disaster. However, if the national government of another country voluntarily offers assistance as a goodwill gesture in solidarity with the disaster victims, the Central Government may accept the offer. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, is required to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, which is primarily responsible for reviewing foreign offers of assistance and channelising the same. In consultation with the State Government concerned, the MHA will assess the response requirements that the foreign teams can provide.”

“National Disaster Management Plan Chapter 9 on international cooperation accepts that in time (of) severe calamity voluntary aid given by a foreign gov can be accepted. Still if Union Gov chooses to adopt a negative stand towards offer made by UAE gov they should compensate Kerala,” Dr. Isaac tweeted.

The Chief Minister greeted India cricket captain Virat Kohli for having dedicated India’s victory in the Third Test in England to the suffering people of Kerala.

“On behalf of the State government, I greet the Indian cricket team members for having remembered Keralites at the time of their victory in England,” he said.
 
https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...lar-lineage/article24754596.ece?homepage=true
Flood-hit Kerala displays its secular lineage

Thrissur, August 22, 2018 23:32 IST
Updated: August 22, 2018 23:35 IST

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Muslims pray at the hall of Purappullikkavu Ratneswari temple. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement


A Thrissur temple offers its hall for Muslims to pray; a mosque in Malappuram shelters Aryan families
In a true example of communal harmony, a temple hall at Eravathur near Mala, on the southern part of Thrissur district turned into an Eid prayer hall on Wednesday as the nearby mosque at Kochukadavu remained submerged in flood waters.

The temple hall was was serving as the relief camp for the people of Kochukavdu and nearby Kuzhur — two worst hit areas due to floods in the district.

As the Muslims were searching for a place to conduct the Eid prayers on Wednesday, the SNDP Yogam, which runs the Purappullikkavu Ratneswari temple, happily offered the hall for them.

The temple trust also arranged all facilities for the Muslims, including water for the devotees to clean themselves before prayers. Around 200 Muslim devotees participated in the prayers.

Mosque shelters Hindu families
PTI adds:

In Malappuram district, a mosque has provided shelter and food to several Aryan families displaced by the massive floods, while groups of Muslim men have assisted in cleaning two Aryan shrines affected by the deluge.

The Juma Masjid, located at Akampadam in Chaliyar village in northern Malappuram, was sheltering 17 displaced Aryan families, including women, children and the elderly were given space to sleep inside the mosque.

When the families returned two days ago, the mosque provided them rice, pulses and other essential materials alongwith food prepared in its canteen.

A Vishnu Mandir at Venniyode in Wayanad and a shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa at Mannarkkad in Malappuram, inundated due to the floods, were cleaned by a group of Muslim men. Many shared the photos of the Muslim men cleaning the temples on social media.
 
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NDRF teams leave Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday after relief operations in various parts of Kerala. | Photo Credit: S. Gopakumar

https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...rala-relief/article24754161.ece?homepage=true

India rejects offers of foreign aid for Kerala relief; NRIs, PIOs and foundations can donate to the PM and CM relief funds

India has said a polite ‘no’ to offers of foreign assistance to the Kerala flood victims. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement said India will rely on domestic resources for the State’s ongoing flood relief efforts.

“In line with the existing policy, the Government is committed to meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts,” the MEA’s official spokesperson said on Wednesday.

It was the first time, since the floods struck Kerala, that the MEA clearly indicated India’s preference for domestic resources over foreign assistance.

The spokesperson, however, indicated that certain foreign entities other than governments were welcome to contribute to disaster relief, and said, “Contributions to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund from NRIs, PIOs and international entities such as foundations would, however, be welcome.”

The formal declaration of India’s official position on foreign aid for flood relief in Kerala came hours after the ambassador of Thailand revealed that India was not accepting foreign offers for help.

“Informally informed with regret that the Government of India is not accepting overseas donations for Kerala flood relief. Our hearts are with you, the people of Bharat,” Thailand’s Ambassador to India Chutintorn Sam Gongsakdi declared in a message posted on social media.

The message from the Thai ambassador and the statement from the MEA spokesperson settled the debate over the reported offer from the government of UAE to help flood relief with ₹700 crore.

The total volume of financial support from the entire Gulf region (including UAE) is calculated to be far greater than the ₹600 crore that the government of India has declared for Kerala so far.

However, the official position is in accordance with the existing standpoint regarding foreign assistance which stems from the fact that India is “capable” of dealing with natural calamities.

It is understood that ‘as of now’ India will continue to deal with natural calamities in the way it has dealt with such episodes in the last 15 years when a convention to avoid foreign aid was adopted in the backdrop of the Gujarat earthquake of 2001 and the tsunami of 2004.

However, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi has stated that his country is providing support to Kerala through institutions.

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https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...ood-situation-well-antony/article24754916.ece

Says norms for accepting foreign aid should be changed

There have been some minor issues in coordinating flood rescue operations, but overall the State government’s handling of the situation has been satisfactory, Congress leader and former Defence Minister A.K. Antony has said.

He was speaking to reporters here on Wednesday.

On Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala’s accusation that the government was responsible for the worst floods in the State, Mr. Antony said his opinion on the matter was reserved. “I am not rejecting or supporting his opinion,” he added.

Mr. Antony said the policy of not accepting foreign aid should be reversed. “If the rule was changed during the UPA tenure, the Union government should rewrite it. We should accept aid offers from Gulf countries. Otherwise, it will create cracks in our relationship with them. We should also accept technical help from countries such as Japan in the reconstruction of houses and bridges,” he said.

Mr. Antony urged the Centre to support the State in its rebuilding process.

Chandy writes to Modi

Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing anguish at the Centre’s stance in receiving financial assistance offered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to help Kerala tackle the post-flood situation. “The Centre should seriously consider reviewing its policies related to foreign aid because the emphasis should be on reducing human suffering,” Mr. Chandy said in his letter.

Kanam’s stance

The special Assembly session scheduled for August 30 should pass a unanimous resolution demanding the Centre to amend the policy that prevents the State from accepting aid from the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations for its rebuilding activities, CPI State secretary Kanam Rajendran has said.

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An August 16 photo of the flooded airport.


Stake-holders express concern over mobilising manpower
A week after it suspended operations following the flash floods that ravaged the State, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has decided to extend the date of resuming operations by three more days to August 29.

An official statement issued by the airport company on Wednesday said a decision to this effect was taken during a meeting to review the damage control activities at Kochi airport during the day. During the meeting, most of the stake-holders, including airlines and ground handling agencies, expressed their concern over mobilising manpower.

‘‘It was informed that 90% of their staff got affected with the flood and are out of station. Nearby hotels, restaurants and eateries still remain close. As central Kerala is yet to recover from post flood trauma, it is a daunting task to arrange local commutation, logistics of catering items, which will cause a cascading effect on the passengers. In view of these apprehensions, CIAL decided to extend the date of resuming operations for three more days. We will start all operations by 2 p.m on August 29,’’ it said.

With flood waters completely drained off its runway, taxiway and parking bays, the airport company has already restored about 750 out of the 800-odd runway lights and about 60% of the runway, besides cleaning up a major portion of the passenger terminals.

CIAL has sustained a loss of around ₹220 crore from damage to the runway and equipment caused by the floods. The airport has suspended aircraft operations since August 15 and the airport company was forced to demolish a portion of its boundary wall to let out the flood water.
 
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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during a visit to a relief camp at Panamabally Memorial Government College in Chalakudy | Photo Credit: Anil Radhakrishnan

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is conducting an in-person review of the functioning of relief camps across the flood-hit regions of Kerala.

Mr. Vijayan is visiting relief camps in Chengannur, Kozhencherry, Alappuzha, North Paravur and Chalakudy to take stock of the situations in the relief camps.

He is visiting the relief camps a day after announcing that no one needs to be rescued from any part of the State that was battered by the worst floods in nearly a century. A total of 1.2 million people affected by floods have been housed in 3,314 relief camps in Kerala, Mr. Vijayan announced on Wednesday.

Here are the updates:
1:45 pm
At Panampilly college in Thrissur
Mr. Vijayan who arrived in Thrissur district on Thursday afternoon was received by Minister V.S. Sunilkumar, Prof. C. Raveendranath and District Collector T.V. Anupama.

Mr. Vijayan, accompanied by Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekhar and State police chief Loknath Beer, proceeded to a relief camp at Panampilly Memorial Government College and interacted with the inmates there.

1:00 pm
At relief camps in North Paravur, Ernakulam
Visiting relief camps at Govt. Boy's HSS in North Paravur Mr. Vijayan said that the government will give priority to rebuilding flood-hit homes in the State.
"Our focus is on re-building and repairing the damaged homes," the Chief Minister said.

He was accompanied by Ministers E. Chandrasekharan, A.C. Moideen, MLA V.D. Satheesan, Chief Secretary Tom Jose, DGP Loknath Behra, and District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla.
Mr. Vijayan also visited a nearby relief camp at St. Thomas Jacobite Syrian Church in North Paravur.

12:30 pm
At Chalakudy relief camp
Thrissur: Mr. Vijayan visited a relief camp at Panamabally Memorials Government College at Chalakudy. The Chief Minister, who reached the camp around 11.30 a.m., spent half-an-hour with the around 250 people in the camp. Chalakudy was one of the worst hit areas in the flood in the recent floods.

11:30 am
Visits Lajnathul Muhammadiya HSS in Alappuzha
Alappuzha: Interacting with people at the relief camp in Lajnathul Muhammadiya Higher Secondary School in Alappuzha, Mr. Vijayan promised all help to the flood-affected people in the State.

The Chief Minister also said that help will be offered to clean houses that were submerged in the flood. “We will provide all help. The State government will reconstruct all houses destroyed in floods,” said Mr. Vijayan.



9:30 am
At relief camp in Chengannur

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan arrives at a flood relief camp in Chengannur, Alappuzha on Thursday morning.

Alappuzha: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday morning visited a flood relief camp at Christian College in Chengannur.

Mr. Vijayan, who arrived in a chopper, interacted with the people staying at the relief camp. The Chief Minister, accompanied by local MLA Saji Cherian, Revenue Minister E. Chandrashekaran, Alappuzha District Collector S. Suhas, District Police Chief S. Surendran and others, took stock of the situation.

Mr. Vijayan will visit relief camps in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts later in the day.


Accept ₹700 crore UAE offer or compensate us, Kerala tells Centre
The Kerala government has asked the Centre to go by the 2016 National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) while taking a call on the UAE government’s offer of ₹700 crore in assistance or compensate the State for the loss of such a hefty sum.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had welcomed the UAE government making the ₹700 crore offer. It is only natural for nations to help each other. Moreover, the National Disaster Management Plan, brought out by the Central government in May 2016, does state clearly that any voluntary offer of assistance from other countries can be accepted,” Mr. Vijayan told a news conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.
 
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Collector Sandeep Nanduri inspecting relief materials in Thoothukudi on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: N_RAJESH


Three trucks each on Tuesday and Wednesday left for flood-affected areas
Relief materials worth ₹1.50 crore have been despatched on behalf of the Thoothukudi district administration for the aid of Kerala flood victims so far.

About 2,200 bags containing items such as rice, pulses, oil, sugar, salt, lungis, nighties, biscuits, candles and matchboxes were sent. So far, 16 lorries containing relief materials, contributed by the public and donor institutions, have been sent.

Three trucks each on Tuesday and Wednesday containing relief materials left for flood-affected areas in Kerala.

Collector Sandeep Nanduri visited the SDAT district sports complex and inspected the relief measures. Sub-Collector M.S. Prasanth was present.

Among the materials, about 30 tonnes of liquid chlorine, used for disinfecting water, was sent in a lorry.
 
https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...f-material-sent-to-kerala/article24748025.ece

They are carrying aid worth ₹17 crore to flood-hit areas
A total of 241 lorries carrying over ₹17 crore-worth relief material collected from the public from across the State have been sent to Kerala for flood relief operations so far, Commissioner of Revenue Administration K. Satyagopal said here on Tuesday.

This apart, 200 cylinders of oxygen, two tankers of liquid oxygen and medicines worth ₹2 crore were also being sent to the neighbouring State, he said. Of the 500 tonnes of rice in total, 306 tonnes had already been sent, and Kerala had sought to hold on to the supplies for some time, Mr. Satyagopal, who is also the State Relief Commissioner, told mediapersons.

“Being in a geographically advanced position, Tamil Nadu has more bordering districts with Kerala, and hence, relief material from Tamil Nadu could reach the districts in Kerala, whereas aid from other States could reach only Thiruvananthapuram, by air, before they are dispatched elsewhere, he pointed out.

Two IAS officers – Santhosh Babu and Darez Ahamed, who have been appointed to coordinate in the transportation of relief material to Kerala, were in touch with officials in the flood-hit State, and had been monitoring the movement of vehicles with relief materials. “It was Mr. Ahamed (who is also a doctor) who came up with the idea of sending oxygen. We are helping Kerala significantly in terms of medical aid,” Mr. Satyagopal said.

“We are in touch with them, and based on the need for specific items, we source them here and send them to Kerala,” Mr. Ahamed said. So far, a total of 130 medical teams from Tamil Nadu have conducted 226 camps, benefiting 12,112 flood-affected people in Kerala.

Bed sheets, diapers, inner garments, dhotis, footwear, candles and matches are among the items in need in Kerala. “We have already sent a full load of matches from Sivakasi,” Mr. Satyagopal said, adding that medical help was also being extended along with the Indian Red Cross Society.

When asked about the relief measures taken in flood-hit districts in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Satyagopal said around 12,000 people had been shifted to 144 camps.

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Continuing its assistance to Kerala, the Telangana government has decided to despatch 500 tonnes of rice to the flood-hit State as part of extending support to the affected families.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has directed the Finance and Civil Supplies Minister Eatala Rajender to take steps to despatch the required quantity of rice to the rain-battered State at the earliest.

The Minister spoke to Civil Supplies Commissioner Akun Sabharwal and directed him to ensure despatch of the rice with immediate effect so that it could help provide food to the affected families.

The assistance follows ₹25 crore cash support, 50 reverse osmosis plants for supply of safe drinking water and supply of 100 tonne Balamrutam, baby food for children below three years manufactured by the Telangana Foods, that reached Kerala on Saturday. Meanwhile, donations continued to pour in to the Kerala government for taking up relief operations.

The Telangana IAS Officers Association decided to donate one day’s salary of the serving officers to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund of the Kerala government while the Telangana Gazetted Officers’ Association had handed over cheque of ₹10 crore to Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi as their contribution for relief and rehabilitation of the affected families.

Minister Jupally Krishna Rao announced his resolve to donate a month’s salary for relief works. In addition to that, the deputy collectors’ association have donated a day’s salary of all the special grade deputy collectors and deputy collectors.

Kerala CM thanks KCR

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has thanked his Telangana counterpart K. Chandrasekhar Rao and expressed gratitude on behalf of people of his State for extending ₹25 crore for relief and rehabilitation measures in flood-affected areas.

In a letter to Mr. Rao, Mr. Vijayan said the overwhelming response from Telangana and other States demonstrated the extent of compassion that people show to each other in the hour of crisis. “It makes us proud of being part of Indian ethos and spirit,” he said.
 
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Ministry of Home Affairs
23-August, 2018 19:06 IST
Central assistance to flood affected Kerala

During the recent floods in Kerala, the Centre has provided urgent aid and relief material in a timely manner and without any reservation to the State. The situation has been regularly monitored by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on daily basis and he visited the State on August 17-18, 2018. On his instructions, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), under the Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary, regularly monitored and coordinated rescue and relief operations by holding daily meetings from Aug 16-21, 2018. Senior officers of Defence Services, NDRF, NDMA and Secretaries of Civilian Ministries attended these meetings. Kerala Chief Secretary participated in these discussions through video conference.

Following the decisions taken during these meetings, Centre launched massive rescue and relief operations. In one of the largest rescue operations, 40 helicopters, 31 aircraft, 182 teams for rescue, 18 Medical Teams of Defence forces, 58 teams of NDRF, 7 companies of CAPFs were pressed into service along with over 500 boats and necessary rescue equipments. They successfully saved over 60,000 human lives by rescuing them from marooned areas and shifting them to relief camps. Defence aircrafts and helicopters have made 1,084 sorties of duration 1,168 flying hours and airlifted 1,286 tonne of load and carried 3,332 rescuers. In addition, a number of Navy and Coast Guard ships were pressed into service to carry relief material to Kerala. The search and rescue operations and mobilisation of resources alone would cost the Central Government hundreds of crore of rupees.

Financial Mechanism to meet the rescue and relief expenditure during any notified disaster event is governed by notified guidelines on State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). State Disaster Response Fund has been constituted in each State in which Centre contributes 75% for General Category States and 90% for Special Category States of hilly regions every year as per the award of the successive Finance Commissions.

As per the guidelines, Central Government provides its allocation to SDRF of each State in advance in two installments. In case of any natural calamity, State meets the expenditure of relief and rescue from the SDRF already available at its disposal. In case of any natural calamity beyond the coping capacity of a State, the concerned State Government submits a detailed memorandum indicating the sector-wise details of damages and requirement of funds for relief operations of immediate nature. On receipt of a memorandum, an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) is deputed by the Central Government for on-the-spot assessment of damages and additional requirement of funds. The report of IMCT is considered by the Sub-Committee of National Executive Committee (SC-NEC) headed by the Union Home Secretary in conformity with the norms and then by a High Level Committee (HLC), chaired by the Union Home Minister for approving the quantum of additional assistance from the NDRF.

In the case of recent floods and landslides in Kerala, an interim memorandum was submitted by the State on 21st July, 2018 and immediately an IMCT was constituted, which visited the State on 7th to 12th August, 2018 for on-the-spot assessment of the damages. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju visited Kerala on July 21, 2018 followed by the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh on 12th August. Since there was a second spell of floods in the State, the State Government has stated that they will submit an additional memorandum on the fresh damages caused by the floods and landslides once rescue efforts are over.

Since submission of additional memorandum by the State will take time, with a view to assist the State in meeting relief and rescue expenditure, the Central Government has released Rs.600 crore in advance pending assessment by IMCT and decision of the High Level Committee. This is in addition to Rs.562.45 crore already made available in SDRF of the State. In addition to the financial support, Centre has made available large quantities of emergency food, water, medicines and other essential supplies, including additional allocation of foodgrains, as requested by the State. In supplying these materials, normal rules and procedure have been set aside in view of emergency nature of the requirement in Kerala. In addition, after the visit of the Prime Minister, a number of measures have been announced from different schemes of Central government such as ex-gratia payments from PM’s National Relief Funds (PMNRF); building of damaged houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY); additional 5.5 Cr. person days under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS); national agencies such as NHAI, NTPC and PGCIL to assist the State in repairing National Highways and restoring power etc.


It is clarified that Rs.600 crore released by Centre is the advance assistance only. Additional funds would be released from NDRF on assessment of the damages as per laid down procedure.


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The Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale chairing a meeting to review the flood situation and disaster management, at Kalamassery, Ernakulam, in Kochi on August 24, 2018.
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“ A multi-agency rescue mission involving the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Army, the National Disaster Response Force, and several others has tackled head-on the worst natural calamity in the State’s recent history.” Navy personnel airlift a boy during a rescue operation in Paravur in Kollam. | Photo Credit: AFP

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op...nd-a-prayer/article24774004.ece?homepage=true]

The floodwaters in Kerala may have begun to recede, but there has been no let-up in the rescue and relief operations. S. Anandan goes on a sortie aboard a Sea King helicopter to offer a ringside view of a mission that has been coordinated with military precision

It is the afternoon of August 19, and the sky over central Kerala is a deathly yellow. Having sent down ******** of rain for days on end, it looks spent. From the naval Sea King helicopter in which I am seated, the view below is of a vast expanse of water perforated by the occasional thicket, patches of dry land, a few defiant coconut palms, ridges of sloped roofs, and tall, multilevel dwellings whose terraces, until the other day, had been packed with the marooned, waiting desperately for the thrum of a helicopter.

The buildings are largely empty now, their occupants either consumed by the rising tide or evacuated to safety. A multi-agency rescue mission involving the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Army, the National Disaster Response Force, and several others had commenced on a modest scale on August 9 before expanding over the next 10 days, with hundreds of aerial and boat search parties tackling head-on the worst natural calamity in the State’s recent history.

Now the floodwaters have begun to recede. Rescue missions have been wound up. Rationing of supplies, however, is still ongoing. Ours is one of the several relief supply sorties launched from the Southern Naval Command’s air station Garuda, the hub of aerial rescue and relief operations.

Since the start of the operations, the Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard have together flown 513 rescue-cum-relief sorties, clocking over 677 hours of flying, and airlifting 1,173 people to safety. At the time of reporting, boat rescues by the Navy and the fishers had together saved 16,843 people from certain death. The Sea King, though an ageing helicopter with antiquated avionics, is a multi-role aircraft that continues to be the all-weather workhorse of the Indian Navy.

Not like flying over sea


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The Navy drops food packets in central Kerala.

“Have something for lunch. It’s going to be a long haul,” says Lieutenant Commander Abhijeet Garud. He has just returned from a sortie and the Sea King that he captains, a commando variant with the tail number IN556, is being turned around for the afternoon sortie. I am on board with nearly a dozen divers, along with loads of food packets, water, other essentials, and rescue gear. Garud is already a known name, courtesy a viral video of his nimble landing two days ago on a narrow rooftop to evacuate an 80-year-old woman.

The flood rescue-and-relief mission has pushed the pilots to the brink of the prescribed fatigue limits. They launch their aircraft at daybreak, return after a sortie for hot-refuelling, and take off again. The routine repeats after an hour’s break. The debriefing gets over by 8.00-8.30 p.m., after which they have a quick meal and retire for the night. “Pilots have lost weight merely by sitting in the cockpit,” says Garud, who has lost five kg in 10 days. He has logged 45 hours on the chopper during the mission. “Under normal circumstances, those are your flying hours for an entire month. But training sorties are in a controlled environment. Here we are talking about high-pressure sorties with obstacles all around.”

Garud has flown 16 sorties as part of the mission. He has rescued 156 people, dropped nine Gemini boats and 36 divers, and relocated 21 army troopers of the 19 Madras Regiment as part of the Navy’s flood relief ops, nicknamed Madad.

A motley crowd of flight engineers, technicians, and pilots on a break between sorties are going about their chores outside the Sea King hangar when I bump into Captain P. Rajkumar, attired in flying overalls, speaking on his mobile phone. He had been awarded the Shaurya Chakra for hauling a fisherman from the sea during Cyclone Ockhi last December in an unprecedented heliborne night rescue operation.

Rajkumar, 54, in-charge of the Navy’s Flight and Tactical Simulator in Kochi for the training of Sea King pilots, has been active in the flood rescue missions. “I would say it is ten times more challenging than what I had done during Ockhi,” he says. The flood scene was grim on August 17. The sky was overcast, with low visibility. He was flying an anti-submarine variant of the Sea King along the Chalakudy-Aluva stretch north of Ernakulam, which had been badly hit by the floods, when he spotted frantic waving from a terrace. “There were tall trees all around, but I brought the helicopter into a hover and my crew winched up, one by one, a total of 26 people. Along with the crew, it was 32 on board. Never before had we carried these many people in a Sea King,” he says. “Flying over the sea is different. There are no obstructions. But when you do this kind of an operation over land, you must be wary of tall trees, high-tension wires, and microwave and mobile towers.”

The noise in the cabin is deafening, but not everyone on board the IN556 is keen to wear an ear defender. The divers have squeezed themselves into the narrow pockets of space unoccupied by stacks of relief materials. Flight navigator Lieutenant Satyarth Sharma and winch operator Ajit Singh are on radio with the pilot Garud and co-pilot Lieutenant Commander Rajneesh Kumar, as we head southeast from the naval base. The sailor sitting across from me has a T-shirt with INS Shalki and a dolphin on it. There’s a hint of surprise in his nod, as he lip-reads my query on whether he was based in Mumbai. The Western and the Eastern Commands of the Navy have also sent men and material to help the flood-affected.


Watch: Monsoon deluge cripples Kerala

Singh has a foot on the partially open sliding door of the chopper. He is scanning the ground for terraces with people. Using gestures, he asks a group huddled on a rooftop what they need, and the aircraft whirs into a low hover. He then joins Sharma and Rajan, a diver who is part of the crew, in lowering food packets and cases of drinking water using the winch. In some places, the packets are just dropped. A little later, the helicopter makes an unhurried landing in a small rectangular clearing to the right of a building. The rotor wash blows away roofing sheets stacked up beside a shed. The divers hop off to offload the store, and I take clearance from the crew to talk to a small crowd that has gathered in front and to the right of the chopper at a safe distance.

On to the Gemini


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Parked to our right is a bus of the Nazareth College of Pharmacy, Othera, Thiruvalla. “We have food and power. There was this fake news about us being badly hit, but we are safe. Many women and children in Chengannur and Thiruvanvandoor need you,” says a nun, speaking for the group. Some others are busy taking pictures of the chopper on their mobile phones.

Having offloaded the supplies at Thiruvalla, from where they will be transported to the affected areas nearby, the empty helicopter returns to the naval base for hot-refuelling and store replenishment. Laden with store, the copter is airborne again in a matter of 10 minutes and heads north. Scenes of destruction caused by the flood suddenly loom up as we fly over Chendamangalam. “Isn’t this where you wanted to be airdropped,” asks a crew member, suggesting that I identify the predetermined school location.

The pale yellow façade of the Government Higher Secondary School at Paliam in Chendamangalam is in full view now, its sprawling courtyard resembling a watery graveyard for vehicles. A naval boat team that has been carrying out rescue in the area is my contact point. I can now see them moving their rubber Gemini boat into a strait between two school buildings to protect it from the rotor wash. I am lowered into a rescue basket onto the school’s slippery terrace. The overhanging branches of a nearby Banyan tree shake and sway violently as the chopper resumes its forward flight, halting for a few moments to drop supplies on a nearby rooftop. Walking gingerly, I cross over to the sunshade of an adjacent building and climb down an old iron ladder onto the Gemini, to be received by Lieutenant Commander Vijay Raj, captain of the naval boat team.

Naval team rescues a child near Aluva, Kerala

The tile-roofed, off-colour school buildings are still surrounded by waist-deep water. Raj and his team are gearing up to ship the last lot of 10 people from the nearly 250 locals who had been entrapped. They will be ferried to a patch of dry land outside the compound, and then will go by truck to a government-run relief camp in North Paravur. “With the waters rising on August 15, everyone made a beeline for the school, which was thought to be a safe location. It had not been inundated in the floods of 1961. But this time, the flooding was rapid and we had to break open some padlocks to take refuge in the upper floors. As the water rose to a height of 12-13 ft, many people fled, and we got trapped. We have lost everything — our homes, possessions, cattle. But wherever we go now, we will all go together,” says Rukhiya Siddique, 57, a resident of the Chendamangalam panchayat.

The Navy’s steady aerial supplies over the last four days have kept their hopes alive, points out Raj, as his team, comprising diver Rahul Bhukar and sailors Mukesh Kumar and Pradeep Kumar, pushes the boat towards a truck waiting at a distance. Raj has seven teams under his command, each with a diver. In this team, he is joined by Roopesh N.R., a local guide.

Roopesh is a commando with the Kerala Anti-Terror Squad. He had to quickly leave Areekode, where he works, on Independence Day, to lead the evacuation mission in his native Paliam. “We teamed up locally and rescued everyone, from newborns to 90-year-olds. We lodged them in relatively safe locations. But this was not without some needless issues. Despite owning a big boat, people at a nearby illam (Brahmin ancestral home) refused to part with it for rescue. So we tied gas cylinders together and put them afloat to transport ailing people,” says Roopesh, as the Gemini carries us to the narrow bylanes of the panchayat, the bottom of its motor scraping the ground with a sputter where water has receded considerably.


A selfless act during the Kerala floods

In the early days, some boats got damaged from plying over gates with sharp spikes, from nails fixed on compound walls, or when the outboard engine got locked to the pulley-beam of a submerged well. “There were some fulfilling moments, like the time we made a makeshift stretcher to shift from the second floor some very old and ailing people. There was also this woman with a newborn who wept in relief after we helped her to safety,” says Raj, smiling.

Kumar blows a whistle to see if any of those who have stayed put are in need of supplies. At the far-end of a water-logged Sree Krishna Temple Road, beyond an inundated panchayat office, stays the family of V.K. Venugopal, a photographer. “Along with some neighbours, who are also relatives, we remained on the top floor. The river is a kilometre away. When the waters came, we went upstairs,” says a dishevelled and haggard Venugopal as he receives his rations of water and cereals. He doesn’t want to shift his 90-years-plus mother to another place. The suggestions to the contrary from Roopesh and the naval team cut no ice with the family. Venugopal tells us that he has been using an inverter to keep his mobile phone alive.

Bravehearts of Puthuvype


25THFLOODS3

People wait for aid. | Photo Credit: Reuters

In a strange twist of irony, a bunch of fishermen, themselves fighting penury, deprivation, and the vagaries of nature, has been in the vanguard of the battle against the flood. Feeling a need to augment rescue efforts, Charles George, the unassuming convenor of the Fisheries Coordination Committee, some officials of the Fisheries Department, and legislator S. Sarma had wondered if the fishers could help. As if on cue, on August 16, the second day of major flooding, they took to the highways, canals and flooded fields with 12 motorised canoes. “They were all from Puthuvype island, mostly the project-affected people of the massive Kochi LNG terminal. Dispatching their flood-hit families to relief camps, they brought their canoes and inboard carrier boats to look for stranded people in the Aluva, Muppathadam, Thaikkattukara, and Kadungalloor areas, and in the isolated islands of Pizhala, Kothad and Kadamakkudy,” says George, who coordinated their rescue. By the time the fishers called off the operations, they had launched 146 big and small boats to save thousands of people. There were more from Thiruvananthapuram.

N.S. Suresh, 48, a Puthuvype fisherman, is distraught at his inability to save an old woman from drowning in the swirling waters. “We were steering the canoes over coconut leaves, banana groves, hedges, and the roofs of submerged houses, which often tugged at our boat engines, damaging them. But it did not bother us. There were times when we had to ferry 14 people in a canoe made to carry just four. Hunger is not new to us, so we skipped meals to save time and save more people each day before nightfall,” he says.

“Had it not been for the fishers, the death toll would have been much higher,” says film actor Salimkumar, who had been saved from his flooded home in Paravur, along with his family and some neighbours, by a group of fishermen. Allesh Joseph, 63, a resident of the remote Karingamthuruth near Kongorpilly on the outskirts of Kochi, had decked up his house for his son’s wedding. Waylaid by a rising Periyar, he shifted to his brother’s place a kilometre away. “Just four houses were spared by the waters. Everyone in the neighbourhood, along with their cattle, house cats, and pet dogs had sought refuge in these houses. Two days and nights later, the boatmen came looking for us. Suresh and Shaji (another rescuer) steered their boats over the waters strewn with some cable wires that had come loose. They took us to Koonammavu, from where we drove down to Kadavanthra,” says Joseph. His brother Tomy, who has come from Austria for the family wedding, shudders at the thought of how they saved a bed-ridden 86-year-old uncle. “With everyone rushing to board, we thought the boat would capsize. But they made him sit in a chair and steered the boat with care,” he says.

Kerala floods: the aftermath

I get airlifted from the school terrace by the same chopper that had dropped me. We fly back to the naval base. On the way, I spot a traditional fishing boat laden with raw coconuts in the clear backwaters crisscrossing Kochi. As George puts it, for once the fishers had closed ranks alongside the forces to form the first line of defence against the floods.

The T2 hangar of the base has been turned into a relief camp for people rescued by the helicopters. The neatly laid out camp has 101-year-old Karthyayani, her kin 68-year-old Sath, and 78-year-old Ratnamma from Chendamangalam thanking their stars. Raji, 31, who is eight months pregnant, her husband Aneesh, a paint worker, and their seven-year-old son were airlifted by a Navy Chetak helicopter from Kurumassery school in the badly hit Parakkadavu panchayat on August 18. They may not be able to go back to their dilapidated house any time soon, with people speaking of the stench of dead cattle in the trail of the floodwaters. But they still have a broad smile on their faces. A prenatal scan conducted by the hospital has told them that the baby is doing fine.

Little Alex, all of four, was wondering whether he would have to survive on the rain water they had harvested using a pipe when the entire family, comprising his mother, aunt, cousins, and grandparents, was saved by a naval helicopter from their housetop in Poovathussery. He has found playmates at the camp and remains busy. Aleena, his sister in Class 9, says determinedly that she will join the Services to save lives.
 
https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...ayi-vijayan/article24772633.ece?homepage=true
August 24, 2018 19:18 IST
Updated: August 25, 2018 11:07 IST

Kerala on its own will not be in a position to mobilise the required resources to bridge the gap, reclaim and rebuild, writes Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

Unprecedented downpour and floods in Kerala have resulted in heavy loss of life, immeasurable misery and devastation. As is known to all, the calamity with its hitherto unheard of dimensions plunged our State and its people into a pitiable plight. The magnitude of the havoc truly gets reflected in the fact that a vast area of the State still remains submerged in flood waters.

As of now, 372 lives have been lost since the onset of the monsoon. Over 26,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed. Crops spread over 40,000 hectares have been lost. We have lost more than 2 lakh poultry and at least 46,000 milch animals. Floods have washed away many multi-storied buildings, shops and commercial establishments. Several roads in the State have been severely damaged, with some roads being completely washed away by the flood waters. Even bridges have collapsed. Telephone network and electricity lines have been damaged. The power sector has suffered losses of around ₹750 crore and the water sector's losses are close to ₹900 crore. The preliminary assessment of losses comes around ₹20,000 crore.

It goes without saying that the actuals will steadily go up once the water recedes and the final assessment is made. To put it in a nutshell, the size of the loss caused by the calamity is equal to the size of the annual plan that the State has chalked out for 2018-19.

I need not tell you that Kerala on its own will not be in a position to mobilise the required resources to bridge the gap, reclaim and rebuild. Since the State is densely populated with an equally complex infrastructure network, the loss suffered by the State is huge in nature and is something which cannot be compared to the damage suffered by any other part of the country at any point of time. Against this backdrop one can easily come to the conclusion that Kerala requires a different yardstick.

Torrential rains have forced temporary closure of the Kochi airport and train services had to be put on hold. More than 300 landslides have occurred, resulting in hills being razed in several places. Our major rivers such as the Bharathapuzha, Periyar, Chalakkudy and Pamba have altered course at several places. Several parts of the State had been cut off, and remained as stranded islands, inaccessible by road or water transport, for days together. The actual figures of total losses are likely to be much higher, considering the fact that several places are still under water.

Despite such adverse situations, the people of Kerala came together behind the Government of Kerala which ensured that people are evacuated and rehabilitated properly in relief camps. There are over four thousand relief camps which house nearly 14 lakh people, most of whom have been brought to safety as part of the rescue operation which is almost over. Though it is coming to a close, teams are still vigilant against any possible eventualities.

The massive rescue operation was coordinated by the State, together with the Central government. Our own police and fire force personnel were deployed across the affected areas. The Army, Navy, Coast Guard and NDRF also did a great job in the rescue operations in coordination with the State authorities. Elected representatives, volunteers and fishers also played an active part in the rescue effort. Ministers and District Collectors are coordinating the relief efforts at the district level. Youth of the State deserves a special mention for their selfless and dedicated service which set a high bar for possible disaster management situations in the times to come. Our fisherfolk deserve accolades for the courageous and timely intervention that rescued a lot many people. A wide range of people, right from the fisherfolk to the well trained defence commandos, did exemplary work in saving the lives of those who were stranded in islands of isolation.

During the operations, we had the service of 59 NDRF teams along with their 207 boats, 23 Army columns with their 104 specialised crafts, 94 rescue teams from Navy supported by medical team, nine helicopters, two fixed wing aircrafts and 94 boats, 36 teams from the Coast Guard with their 49 boats, two helicopters, 23 fixed wing helicopters, two fixed wing aircraft and the Air Force with its 27 hired boats, 22 helicopters and 23 fixed wing aircraft, the Border Security Force with one company of its personnel, CRPF with its 10 teams of personnel and two companies of BSF along with one water vehicle team. It was for the first time that such a massive rescue operation of this magnitude was conducted anywhere in India.

Synergy between the State forces, local authorities, elected representatives, local people and the Central teams was of a unique blend. What ensured its success was meticulous planning, rigorous assessment of the ground realities, efficient use of technology, resolve of the people and flawless coordination on the part of the State. Since August 9, the CMO, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) and the State Control Cell have been working round-the-clock, monitoring the situation and coordinating various streams of rescue efforts.

We have to adopt a two-pronged strategy comprising, on the one hand, reclamation of the submerged lands and, on the other, restoration of whatever infrastructure facilities we had there. No less important is the task of bringing life back to normality in the State. Transcending all barriers, the people of Kerala are joining hands in this effort. We will have to run the camps at least for three or four weeks. By this time we have to clean the houses affected by the flood. Local authorities have been directed to help the families in the cleaning operations. Health authorities are taking every precaution to ensure the well being of the people there and to see that there will not be any epidemic breakout. We are making use of all public sector institutions such as TCCL, KSDP, etc., for creating a healthy environment in the affected areas.

It is heartening to note that noble minds from all over the world are coming to help us at this point of agony. Considering the magnitude of the devastation that has happened in Kerala, the Centre has released ₹100 crore for immediate relief. The Prime Minister, immediately after his aerial survey, announced that ₹500 crore will be made available to the State in addition to the amount announced earlier. It is with a thankful heart that we take note of the fact that foreign countries ranging from the UAE to Qatar have come forward with their promise of assistance.

Kerala is facing its biggest calamity in 100 years. I know pretty well that all who have a concern towards our State, located at the southern-most tip of our land, will come in a big way to our aid. Help from all around the world will go a long way in our efforts to overcome this calamity.

I take this opportunity to express the sincere gratitude of the people of Kerala to all who have been kind enough to stand by us during these testing times.

Pinarayi Vijayan

Chief Minister, Kerala


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KeralaAirForce

Air Marshal B. Suresh, Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Air Command, hands over a cheque for ₹ 20 crore to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. | Photo Credit: CMO

https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...es-20-crore/article24777967.ece?homepage=true

After playing a major role in the massive rescue operations lasting over a week in the flood-ravaged areas across Kerala, the Indian Air Force has chosen to go one step ahead and make a big financial contribution to the State's relief and reconstruction effort.

Air Marshal B. Suresh, Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Air Command, handed over a cheque for ₹ 20 crore to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as the IAF's contribution to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.

 
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Ministry of Defence
25-August, 2018 15:19 IST
CLARIFICATION

There have been some reports in the mainstream and social media regarding the visit of the Hon'ble Raksha Mantri (RM) to Kodagu district in Karnataka stating that the RM got angry with the district incharge minister of Kodagu Mr Sa Ra Mahesh during the flood review being taken with the district administration. These reports have also quoted the district incharge minister who has made certain personal remarks against the RM. The remarks have also lowered the dignity of the upper house of the Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and show utter lack of regard and knowledge about the Indian Polity.



In order to clarify the matter, it is imperative that a detailed account of the sequence of events is brought out. The tour program of the RM was finalised by the district administration of Kodagu in consultation with the public representatives. This program was approved and circulated to all concerned two days prior to RM's arrival. Subsequently, on the request of the district administration, an interaction with the veterans was added to the schedule.



On completion of the field visits, as per the program, RM was interacting with ex-servicemen who had been adversely affected by the floods, when the District incharge minister objected and insisted that meeting with the officials be conducted first. RM clarified that welfare of ex-servicemen was an essential part of the Ministry of Defence and the same was scheduled in the program. However, the district minister insisted that the RM immediately stop the interaction and proceed to the meeting with the officials.



While it was extremely unfortunate, in order to avoid the situation from deteriorating, RM immediately halted the meeting and proceeded to the venue of the meeting with the officials. The venue was already set up for the press conference and hurriedly the officials were summoned to sit among the mediapersons for the review. It was unprecedented to hold a meeting with the officials, with all the mediapersons present.



The RM then heard the grievances of the waiting ex-servicemen. Inspite of district administration finalising the program and RM following the same in its entirety it is unfortunate that the minister behaved the way he did. Subsequently, the personal remarks made against the RM were also in bad taste, which do not merit a response.



It has also been noted that there has been gross misrepresentation with regard to the use of the term ‘parivar’ by the RM during the press conference. One of the four departments of the Ministry of Defence is the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare and in that context it was stated that all ex-servicemen are part of the MoD ‘parivar’. Any other inference is misconstrued and uncalled for.
 
https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...th-flood-relief-to-kerala/article24774566.ece

Large amount of flood relief cargo supported by the UAE community, that includes the government and civil society of the country, has landed in Kerala via the Emirates Airlines. The airline chose Thiruvananthapuram for landing as the international airport in Kochi remains non-operational due to the floods.

“Kerala, India is reeling from the worst floods in hundred years. The UAE supports Kerala in its time of need. Responding to a call by the UAE’s leaders, Emirates Sky Cargo is carrying over 175 tonnes of relief goods to Kerala. We join the UAE community – the leadership, government entities, humanitarian organisations, residents and businesses in their support of Kerala,” said the Emirates Airlines in a social media message.

This is the biggest international relief effort that began after the floods became intense over the last one week. Significantly, this relief operation got underway, as India declared its preference for domestic resources to deal with the crisis after a reported offer of ₹700 crore aid from the UAE government to Kerala.

However, the Ministry of External Affairs had also announced that contributions to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, and the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund from NRIs, PIOs and international entities such as foundations would be welcome. The MEA has not however clarified about the composition of the suppliers of the cargo from the “UAE community” .

The airlifting includes 13 aircraft filled with critical goods such as inflatable boats, dry fruits, food items, blankets that will be handed over to the local officials and organisations, the Dubai Media Office said elaborating the scope of the operation.

UAE has emerged as a major aid giver in recent years and has been noted for sending out relief goods to disaster-struck areas of Asia and Africa.
 
Ministry of Finance
28-August, 2018 19:53 IST
In order to review the relief and rehabilitation measures being undertaken by the Banks and Insurance Companies in the State of Keralain view of the large scale devastation caused by the recent floods in the State, a High Level Delegation led by the Minister of State(Finance), Pon. Radhakrishnan will visit Kerala tomorrow

A High Level delegation led by the Union Minister of State(Finance), Pon. Radhakrishnan will visit Kerala tomorrow and review the relief measuresand rehabilitation effortsbeing undertaken by the Banks and Insurance Companies in the State of Kerala in the light of the large scale devastation caused by the recent floods in the State.

The delegation would comprise of senior officers from the Central Government including the Additional. Secretary, Shri Debashish Panda and Economic Advisor, Shri N. Srinivasa Rao from the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance. Chairman and Managing Directors from the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Insurance Companies including Agriculture Insurance Co. of India Ltd., and NABARD would also be present in the meeting along with the senior officers from the State Government and other concerned agencies.

Various relief measures pertaining to re-opening of all submerged/flood affected Bank branches and ATMs, exchange of Soiled / mutilated / defective currency and extension of loan repayment period etc have already been initiated by all the Banks. All Insurance Companies have also started processing various flood related claims to ensure expeditious settlement. They have already established Special Camp Offices, deployed additional Surveyors and waived document requirements etc. for speedier claims payment so that quick relief is ensured to the affected people.

Widespread publicity is being given about the various relief measures being undertaken, about setting-up of Facilitation Centres and appointment of Nodal Officers in the vernacular newspapers/electronic media for ensuring that maximum relief benefits are availed by the affected population.



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Ministry of Finance
28-August, 2018 19:00 IST
Extension of date for filing of Income Tax Returns for taxpayers in Kerala

In view of the disruption caused due to severe floods in Kerala, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) hereby further extends the “Due Date” for furnishing Income Tax Returns from 31st August, 2018 to 15th September, 2018 for all Income Tax assessees in the State of Kerala, who were liable to file their Income Tax Returns by 31st August, 2018.

CBDT had earlier extended the ‘Due Date’ for filing of Income Tax Returns from 31st July, 2018 to 31st August, 2018 in respect of the categories of taxpayers who were liable to file their Income Tax Returns by 31st July, 2018.

******

Ministry of Human Resource Development
28-August, 2018 11:59 IST
CBSE to help flood hit Kerala Schools and Students;

Digital certificates/marksheets to be given to students of CBSE affiliated schools

As a special gesture to students from CBSE affiliated schools, whose board exam academic documents such as Marksheets/ Migration Certificates/ Pass Certificates have been lost or damaged in the Kerala floods, the Central Board of Secondary Education has decided to facilitate and provide digital mark sheets, migration certificates and pass certificates. Over 1,300 schools are affiliated to the CBSE in Kerala. Board exam academic documents are crucial for admission for higher studies and employment etc.

CBSE, in technical collaboration with NeGD, developed its own and first of its kind digital academic repository called ‘Parinam Manjusha’. This academic repository has been integrated with DigiLocker.

The digital academic documents being provided through Parinam Manjusha/ DigiLocker are digitally signed using digital signature of Controller of Examinations of CBSE which make them legally valid digital document as per the IT Act. These documents are also having PKI based QR codes and such documents can be verified for the authenticity using the DigiLocker mobile app.

How to get digital academic documents such as Mark Sheets/Migration Certificates/Pass Certificates from CBSE’s Academic Repository Parinam Manjusha:

1. The students can visit Parinam Manjusha website https://cbse.digitallocker.gov.in and download their academic documents using the login-id / password provided at the time of declaration of results on their registered mobile nos.

2. In order to facilitate the students again, the CBSE will re-send login-id and password of Parinam Manjusha/DigiLocker pertaining to students of the year 2016-2018 on their mobile nos provided with Class X/XII data.

3. For the students of 2004-2015, students of 2016-2018 who did not provide mobile no at the time of Class X/XII data or students who have changed their mobile nos.

(i) Such students can visit Parinam Manjusha website https://cbse.digitallocker.gov.in and link their Aadhaar to their account and get their digital documents by providing their roll number, class and year of examination.

(ii) Students who don’t possess Aadhaar or don’t remember their roll nos may approach to their schools directly or through their relatives to register themselves in order to get login credentials of Parinam Manjusha/DigiLocker. A link is being provided on CBSE website for the schools to register such candidates.

In case if any student finds any variation in his/her document, he/she may contact the CBSE Regional Office Thiruvananthapuram immediately giving roll number, name, class and year.

In case of any difficulty in Parinam Manjusha/DigiLocker account, students may write to support@digitallocker.gov.in giving roll number, name, class and year of exam.

Help in Affiliation Processes: In addition to the above, it has also been decided that all applications for extension of affiliation and up gradation will be processed immediately, provided the school has been running for the last five years and there is no complaint against the school. The last date for submitting school information at the Online Affiliated School Information System (OASIS) for affiliated schools in Kerala has also been extended upto 30th September 2018.

*****

NB/AKJ/AK/RK/CBSE
 
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Ministry of Defence
29-August, 2018 15:56 IST
Rehabilitation and Community Outreach Measures Announced by Chief of the Naval Staff

Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chairman Chiefs Of Staff Committee (COSC) and Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) visited Muttinakam village in VarapuzhaPanchayat of Ernakulam district today to review relief and rehabilitation work in this locality which was ravaged during the recent Kerala floods. The CNS was accompanied by Vice Admiral AK Chawla, AVSM, NM, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command (SNC), MrsReenaLanba, President, Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) and MrsSapanaChawla, President NWWA(Southern Region). AdmLanba also interacted with Adv VD Satheesan, MLA of Paravur, Shri S Sharma, MLA of Vypin, Shri Mohammed Safirullah, District Collector Ernakulam and members of Muttinakam village at VarapuzhaPanchayat..Relief materials worth about Rs 25 Lakhs, from NWWA were handed over to the Local Self government officials by President NWWA.

While addressing the gathering CNS emphasised that all naval personnel including himself were connected with Kerala by an umbilical cord with the “Janamabhumi” as all personnel are trained under the SNC based at Kochi prior to becoming fullfledged naval personnel, and reiterated that he had been closely monitoring the situation over these past several days and that the Navy had deployed its personnel and assets from across the Navy during the crisis and that the focus now is on relief activities.

CNS further said that Indian Navy has selectedtwo localities based on inputs received from the local administration and visits by naval officials wherein Rehabilitation initiatives were proposed to be undertaken to restore the area. The shortlisted localities where Navy intended to carry out reconstruction works wereMuttinakam in VarapuzhaPanchayat and CheriyaKadamakudi in KadamakudiPanchayat.

The activities in Muttinakam

  1. Reconstruction of a completely damaged house on the river bank.
  2. Complete renovation of the Sub primary health centre (PHC)and Anganwadialong with furniture, equipment, play equipment and other essential equipment.
The activities in Cheriya Kadamakudi

  1. Reconstruction of 03 houses
  2. Renewal of roof of 05 other houses
  3. Construction of an Anganwadi
  4. fitment of a 10 tonnes per day Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant to meet the drinking water requirements of the people in the region (which has already been completed and operational for the general public since 28 Aug 18)
Rehabilitation kits (800 for Muttinakam and 500 for Cheriyakadmakkudi) containing essential commodities such as clothing, cleaning gear and utensils etc. were distributed on the occasion. Additionally, some other requirementsincluding the construction of a bridge connectingPizhala island to CheriyaKadamakudihamlet would also be considered and the feasibility explored.

CNS has directed SNC to coordinate the rehabilitation activities on behalf of the Navy. CNS would also be meeting the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala on 30 Aug 18to discuss any further support required from the Navy to overcome the situation. CNS would also be handing over a cheque of Rs8.9 Crore to CM Disaster Relief Fund as a voluntary contribution fromthe salaries of navalpersonnel.

*****

The Minister of State for Finance and Shipping, Shri P. Radhakrishnan addressing the State Level Bankers Committee meeting, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on August 29, 2018. The Finance Minister of Kerala, Dr. T.M Thomas Isaac and other dignitaries are also seen.
T2018082952755.JPG
 
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