Kerala Govt Disburses ₹19.09 Crore in Livelihood Aid to Mundakkai-Chooralmala Disaster Victims; April Installment Completed

Thiruvananthapuram: The Keralam government has disbursed a cumulative total of ₹19.09 crore in livelihood assistance to families affected by the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide disaster, with two beneficiaries per family receiving the aid. The April installment was completed on Saturday, with funds credited to the accounts of 1,884 beneficiaries.

Each individual receives ₹300 per day, amounting to ₹9,000 per month. Families with bedridden members are entitled to assistance for three persons. Minister K Rajan had confirmed on Saturday morning that the distribution would be completed by evening.

The April disbursement was delayed due to technical issues arising at the start of the new financial year and a series of consecutive public holidays. The government clarified that some media outlets had misreported the delay as an indication that the livelihood support had been discontinued — a claim the government firmly rejected, noting that the decision to continue assistance until beneficiaries are handed over their new homes remains firmly in place.

Under the Disaster Management Act, such livelihood support is mandated for only three months. However, the state government took a special decision to extend the payments well beyond that period. In addition to the livelihood aid, the government has also disbursed ₹6.67 crore in rental assistance at ₹6,000 per family, ₹8 lakh in compensation to the next of kin of those killed in the landslide, medical assistance for the injured and bedridden, funeral expenses, emergency relief, ₹15 lakh each to those who opted out of township housing, and educational support for affected students.