As Kerala stares at funds’ crisis, PM Modi’s double standards called out

As Kerala recollects itself after being afflicted by its worst floods in a century, Centre’s insistence on not accepting any foreign aid, despite an acute shortage of funds, has put Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly in the firing line.

Twitter users are now accusing PM of harbouring double standards in not accepting on foreign assistance, noting that at the time of the massive earthquake in Gujarat in 2001, then CM Modi had accepted millions of dollars in aid from willing countries.

According to records with the Ministry of External Affairs, as many as 60 countries, including Australia, Israel, Italy, Pakistan, the UAE and the United States, among others had contributed direct aid to the Indian government to rehabilitate victims of the Gujarat earthquake.

It was not until 2004 that India imposed an unofficial moratorium on foreign aid in dealing with natural calamities. India’s current policy in accepting foreign aid in such critical situations leaves it to government’s discretion to take a final call on foreign aid.

“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,” according to the National Disaster Management Plan made public by PM Modi on May 18, 2016.

Centre’s offer of ₹600 crore as flood assistance, much lower than ₹2,200 crore demanded by the Kerala government, raises doubts if India has enough funds of its own to deal with the crisis. According to initial estimates, the coastal state has suffered damages in excess of ₹20,000 crore from the unprecedented flooding.

"We asked the union government for financial support of ₹2,200 crore; they grant us a precious ₹600 crore. We make no request to any foreign government but UAE voluntarily offers ₹700 crore. No, says union government, it is below our dignity to accept foreign aid. This is a dog in the manger policy," Kerala’s finance minister Thomas Isaac had tweeted on Thursday.

Not only the Kerala government, senior Congress leader AK Antony also appealed to Centre to tweak the policy on foreign aid in face of crippling funds shortage.

Observers point out that refusal to accept foreign government aid in the wake of Uttarakhand floods in 2013 severely hampered the rescue operations for lack of money.

“Look at the quality of the rebuilt roads in Garhwal. The char dham yatra has severely been affected because of lack of good roads. If Congress adapted this policy, wouldn’t it be wise on BJP’s part to learn from mistakes of their predecessors,” questioned an observer.

The fact that India is severely short of funds is being highlighted by various aid organisations and foundations working in Kerala, which say much more funds are required than what have been made available.

“I don’t think that is the right response. The range of responses needed must be very broad, which no single entity can do. We would be happy in getting responses from the UAE and other countries in Kerala,” said Amitabh Behar, the Chief Executive Officer at Oxfam India, one of the many organisations involved in providing humanitarian aid in flood-ravaged Kerala.

“But that can’t be a substitute for what the state does. For a comprehensive recovery of Kerala, the state must be involved in a larger manner,” added Behar.

“It is good to have access to resources from a multiple level,” he said.

The Oxfam India boss remarked that the “goodwill” coming from around the world must be channelised to the right cause.

Dipali Sharma, the Director of Organisational Effectiveness at Action Aid India, lauded the role of the Kerala government for leading a collective response to the flood situation. She, however, remarked that “more funds are required.”

“The need is really huge. Definitely, more funds would be needed,” she said. Action Aid is helping the flood victims with shelter, food items, potable water and in maintaining health and hygiene.

“We welcome aid from whatever sources available,” said Sharma.

An employee at another prominent non-profit, which is closely coordinating the rescue work with the state government, questioned the Centre’s decision to not accept any direct aid from the UAE and other willing countries.

“If we can take foreign’ money for developmental, healthcare and sanitation projects among others, what stops us from accepting humanitarian aid. Centre is trying to explain something that is rationally not possible,” said the non-profit worker.