All arrangements are being made to provide relief to the victims of the tragedy in Wayanad, Kerala. Meanwhile, something has happened here which has created a controversy. Actually, Kerala Gramin Bank has deducted EMI from the relief money given to the victims. There was a huge destruction after the landslide here on 30th July. A large number of people were affected by it. To provide relief from this, the state government had released an emergency relief fund. Now the victims are also feeling cheated as the bank has deducted EMI from the relief money. It is worth noting that more than 230 people lost their lives in the Wayanad tragedy. At the same time, more than 100 people went missing.
The Kerala government had released a relief amount of Rs 10,000 per person for the Wayanad victims. Many victims say that as soon as this amount came into the account, Rs 5000 of EMI was deducted. According to Times of India, Mini Mol had taken a loan of Rs 50,000 to build a house. She told that Rs 3000 was deducted from the money received for help. Similarly, Rs 3400 was deducted from the account of Rajesh of Churamala who lost his house. He told that I run a dairy. Eight cows were also washed away along with the place where the cows were tied in the landslide. Rajesh said that I wanted to pay the advance of the rented house with the relief money. Let us tell you that the Center’s share in Kerala Bank is 50 percent and 35 percent through PSU Canara Bank. At the same time, the Kerala government’s share is 15 percent.
State Cooperative Minister VN Vasavan has called this step of the banks cruel. He promised the people that he will raise this issue. The minister said that it is okay that the State Level Bank Committee (SLBC) did not issue any instructions regarding this. But the bank managers should have taken the initiative on their own on humanitarian grounds, but they did not do so. He said that this is really shameful and I will take this issue to SLBC. At the same time, SLBC General Manager KS Pradeep said that he has met the head of the rural bank and instructed him to take necessary steps. Meanwhile, the Deputy Collector of Wayanad has instructed the rural bank to return the amount deducted from the relief fund to the people’s accounts.