During the floods in 2018 and 2019 and Covid-19, thousands of people contributed CMDRF generously. Poor housewives sold out their domestic goats and contributed. School children broke their earthen money boxes for the same purpose. One poor school boy hit the headlines when he sold his bicycle with the same intention. Several NRI Keralites their hard-earned money to CMDRF.
Kochi (VSK).
In Kerala, Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF), is being abused in the most shameful style. Lot of malpractices are reported from different parts of the state. Now, lot of applications are being scrutinised, by Vigilance Department, to trace further abuse.
There are reports that more than 20 persons got relief fund, through a single person from Karod, in Neyattinkara Taluk, Thiruvananthapuram district. Native of Maranelloor, Thiruvananthapuram, got financial aid for cardio treatment where he sought treatment for appendicitis for a day. It was given on the basis of the documents said to be fabricated for this purpose. In Varkala Taluk office, 6 applications are reportedly showing a single agent’s telephone number. In Kallada, Kollam district, Vigilance Department found that the house of a man who got Rs 4 lakhs for “76 % damage” did not sustain any damage at all! The ‘applicant’ has reportedly informed the media that he had not even applied for any compensation!
According to the reports from the same district of Kollam, the applicants who did not even submit applications sans adequate documents got funds. A single doctor in a hospital in Karunagappally, issued certificates for 13 out of 18 applications in the same place.
On top of the above, the following shocking incidents are reported –
In Pathanamthitta, many applications were incomplete. In a single village, Koodal, 268 applications showed a single phone number. In village, Enadimangalam, 61 applications showed a single phone number. In Alappuzha district, a single doctor has certified 10 out of 14 applications. In Kottayam district, Neezhoor Village Officer and former Village Officers of Kondoor Village, Anikkad Village, and Erumeli North Village issued certificates without enquiry. In Thodupuzha Taluk, 70 applications were submitted during 2021 to 2023. And, a single phone number for all applications!
Another report says, Alathur Village, Palakkad, where 78 applications were submitted; 54 of them got medical certificate from the doctors of a single private Ayurveda hospital! In Thalakkulathur Village of Kozhikode district, an NRI Keralite’s son got Rs 3 lakhs for medical treatment. And, a government servant’s mother got Rs 25,000 for treatment.
During the floods in 2018 and 2019 and Covid-19, thousands of people contributed CMDRF generously. Poor housewives sold out their domestic goats and contributed. School children broke their earthen money boxes for the same purpose. One poor school boy hit the headlines when he sold his bicycle with the same intention. Several NRI Keralites their hard-earned money to CMDRF.
But, at the end of the day, Keralites are ‘sentenced’ to bear these sorts of news with heavy hearts. But, political parties, ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) are engaged in blame game. When UDF blames the ruling Front for this corruption and abuse, they shoot back that Congress MPs and MLAs had recommended for several applicants. Now, people wait for the investigation of Vigilance Department and intervention of Lok Ayukta.
