By A Staff Reporter
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the Centre's handling of the state's financial needs, accusing it of neglect and unjustifiable restrictions. Addressing the media on Tuesday, he criticized the reduction in Kerala's borrowing limits and the Centre's lack of response to disaster aid requests.
"It is crucial to effectively present Kerala's needs in Parliament. Unfortunately, Kerala continues to face neglect from the Centre. The borrowing limits have been drastically cut, which is severely impacting the state's financial planning," he stated.
Referring to the devastating Mundakkai and Chooralmala disasters, Vijayan described them as among the worst calamities the country has witnessed. Kerala had sought ₹1,222 crore in financial assistance to address immediate and future recovery needs. Despite detailed communication to the Union government, there has been no positive response, he said.
Vijayan also pointed out that the funds allocated under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) cannot be considered special aid, as they are part of routine financial distributions. "The SDRF is not special aid—it is a routine allocation. The state's specific needs and the scale of disasters demand much more from the Centre," he remarked.
The Chief Minister's remarks come as Kerala grapples with the aftermath of severe natural disasters and mounting fiscal challenges. He called for more equitable treatment of states by the Union government, especially in times of crisis.
The ongoing dispute underscores the broader tension between state governments and the Centre over financial policies, particularly in resource allocation and disaster recovery efforts.