Financial disaster: Kerala defaults on funds to farmers and endosulfan victims

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Fiscal constraints of the federal government are more likely to deny Onam festivities to many. The unprecedented monetary disaster being confronted by the Kerala authorities has led to cost defaults, affecting the lives of 1000’s of individuals, from farmers, and faculty noon-meal employees to beneficiaries of assorted welfare schemes.

The 6,000-odd endosulfan victims in Kasaragod are the worst affected because the month-to-month cost because of them below the Snehasanthwanam aid scheme has been pending since April. “Its beneficiaries include children and senior citizens. Most of them are disabled or suffering from cancer and other serious illnesses, and are dependent on others for personal needs. These families are in dire straits,” says activist P Krishnan.

Bearing the brunt of the disaster are paddy farmers. Nearly 28,000 of them are but to get cost for the grains procured by the federal government. The authorities owed a complete of Rs 433 crore to 54,000 farmers. Recently, Rs 72 crore was sanctioned for 26,000 farmers. 

“We are into the next cropping season and the government is yet to give the money for the previous season. Many farmers did not sow this season owing to financial issues,” mentioned Muthalamcode Mani, Palakkad president of Desiya Karshaka Samajam.

‘School noon-meal staff not paid since June’

The authorities contractors are additionally feeling the warmth. The invoice funds to authorities contractors are made funds via a Bill Discounting System (BDS). Under this, the federal government arranges loans for contractors from banks or the Kerala Financial Corporation for the invoice quantity. “Banks cost 10% curiosity and the federal government would offer half of it.

We should bear 5 per cent curiosity for no fault of ours. The authorities is but to subject this month’s order on BDS. This month, we now have to make further funds to employees because it’s pageant season,” mentioned Sunny Chennikkara, basic secretary of the Kerala Government Contractors Association. The authorities has additionally defaulted on funds to contract employees and every day wagers below completely different programmes. Among them are 13,400-odd college noon-meal employees who haven’t been paid since June.

“Most of us are the lone earning members of our families. We are in a real crisis this Onam,” says S Shakunthala, state president of School Pachaka Thozhilali Sanghadana. The 1,671 Saksharata Preraks haven’t been paid since April.

“The government had cleared the previous backlog in payment after the suicide of a prerak. But, things are back to square one again,” mentioned Saksharata Prerak Association state secretary A A Santhosh. July’s cost to social safety and welfare fund board pension for about 50.90 lakh beneficiaries is pending.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Fiscal constraints of the federal government are more likely to deny Onam festivities to many. The unprecedented monetary disaster being confronted by the Kerala authorities has led to cost defaults, affecting the lives of 1000’s of individuals, from farmers, and faculty noon-meal employees to beneficiaries of assorted welfare schemes.

The 6,000-odd endosulfan victims in Kasaragod are the worst affected because the month-to-month cost because of them below the Snehasanthwanam aid scheme has been pending since April. “Its beneficiaries include children and senior citizens. Most of them are disabled or suffering from cancer and other serious illnesses, and are dependent on others for personal needs. These families are in dire straits,” says activist P Krishnan.

Bearing the brunt of the disaster are paddy farmers. Nearly 28,000 of them are but to get cost for the grains procured by the federal government. The authorities owed a complete of Rs 433 crore to 54,000 farmers. Recently, Rs 72 crore was sanctioned for 26,000 farmers. googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

“We are into the next cropping season and the government is yet to give the money for the previous season. Many farmers did not sow this season owing to financial issues,” mentioned Muthalamcode Mani, Palakkad president of Desiya Karshaka Samajam.

‘School noon-meal staff not paid since June’

The authorities contractors are additionally feeling the warmth. The invoice funds to authorities contractors are made funds via a Bill Discounting System (BDS). Under this, the federal government arranges loans for contractors from banks or the Kerala Financial Corporation for the invoice quantity. “Banks cost 10% curiosity and the federal government would offer half of it.

We should bear 5 per cent curiosity for no fault of ours. The authorities is but to subject this month’s order on BDS. This month, we now have to make further funds to employees because it’s pageant season,” mentioned Sunny Chennikkara, basic secretary of the Kerala Government Contractors Association. The authorities has additionally defaulted on funds to contract employees and every day wagers below completely different programmes. Among them are 13,400-odd college noon-meal employees who haven’t been paid since June.

“Most of us are the lone earning members of our families. We are in a real crisis this Onam,” says S Shakunthala, state president of School Pachaka Thozhilali Sanghadana. The 1,671 Saksharata Preraks haven’t been paid since April.

“The government had cleared the previous backlog in payment after the suicide of a prerak. But, things are back to square one again,” mentioned Saksharata Prerak Association state secretary A A Santhosh. July’s cost to social safety and welfare fund board pension for about 50.90 lakh beneficiaries is pending.