Binoy Viswam, Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala, on Saturday approached the Supreme Court seeking direction to Centre to allow or accept funds from foreign governments and international organisation as assistance for Kerala Floods.
India has decided not to accept the financial help offered by foreign governments after the floods in Kerala. The UAE, Qatar and Maldives have pledged assistance to India for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the state.
Approaching the apex court, Viswam, a senior Communist Party of India (CPI) leader, said that outright denial of funds from foreign governments and international organisations towards the Kerala flood relief fund for disaster management in Kerala would amount to an arbitrary action by the Centre.
Denial of foreign funds towards the flood relief would result in violation of Article 21 (right to life) of the people of Kerala, he said.
Viswam, who was forest minister in Kerala government, contended that Central government did not hold any consultation with the Kerala government before refusing to accept the funds.
"The decision of the Central government is arbitrary and in violation of Article 14 (right to equality) and 21 guaranteed under the Constitution," the plea stated.
Survivors of Kerala's worst floods in a century on Saturday set aside their misery, even if only temporarily, to celebrate Onam in numerous relief camps across the state, relishing the traditional Onam "sadya" or lunch.
The second day of the harvest festival, called Thiru Onam, fell on Saturday.
Camp officers ensured availability of vegetables and other commodities after men and women in the camps insisted they would cook the sadya themselves instead of accepting what was being offered by NGOs and clubs.
Ever since monsoon rains began lashing Kerala on May 29, a total of 417 people have died. This month, unprecedented floods caused widespread destruction and forced more than a million people to flee their homes to take shelter in relief centres.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday evening said over 6.05 lakh people are still sheltered in 1,822 camps, big and small.
IANS inputs