Kerala floods update: CMDRF receives Rs 1,027.78 crore till date

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Kerala : In a recent update, it has been learnt that owing to floods in Kerala, the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) has has received a total amount of Rs 1,027.78 crore as of August 31. The details of funding have been updated on a real-time basis. 

According to the information on CMDRF website, Rs 145.88 crore has been received via electronic payments, Rs 46.04 crore via UPI/QR/VPA and Rs 835.86 crore via cash/cheque/RTGS. The electronic payments made through the website, from August 14, reached Rs 134.29 crore, with Rs 44.98 lakh on August 31 alone. To maintain transparency in the process, the website has also mentioned the name of banks through which the amount was received. 

The detailed information has been provided to show how Kerala government is utilising the funds received so far.

As per the website, the funds are released only through bank transfer and are operated by Manoj Joshi IAS, the Government Principal Secretary (Finance). Transfers to the end beneficiary are done through Direct Bank Transfer system.

“Contributions to CMDRF is remitted to bank accounts maintained in State Bank of India, City main Branch, Trivandrum as well as pool accounts of various nationalised and scheduled banks and the funds are released only through bank transfer. The pool accounts have been created recently for the functioning of the online portal. The funds can be withdrawn only under the hand and seal of the Finance Secretary,” it reads. 

In addition, though the Finance Secretary is authorised to operate the bank account of CMDRF, the amount can be withdrawn or transferred only as per Government Orders issued by the Revenue Secretary. 

“Government Orders regulate the amount that can be sanctioned by the District Collector, Revenue Special Secretary, Revenue Secretary, Revenue Minister and the Chief Minister. Over and above, it rests with the Council of Ministers,” it adds. 

In case of query, people can file a Right To Information Act (RTI) application to get all information on CMDRF funds, which are open to audit by the Comptroller and Accountant General. The budgeting and expenditure are also subject to scrutiny by the State Legislature.

Kerala, the God's own country is facing worst situation of this century. On August 30, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the Kerala Assembly that the death toll from the floods stood at 483.