Misplaced pride

Misplaced pride

Centre must accept foreign assistance to Kerala. Aiding people in distress knows no borders

As flood waters recede in Kerala, it is apparent that damage is extensive. Landslides and surging rivers have damaged roads, bridges and electricity supply in hilly and low-lying areas. With 11 of 14 districts affected by floods, agriculture in rural areas and service sector in towns have been disrupted. A million people are registered in over 3,000 relief camps and many are in no position to return home soon. Rebuilding infrastructure and helping people will require substantial financial assistance. In this context, India should not let pride trump sense.

Kerala’s chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that the UAE, where a lot of Keralites work, has offered financial assistance of Rs 700 crore. This is a fraction of what the state government needs but it is unclear if Centre will approve. The backstory is that following the December 2004 tsunami, UPA-1 declined offers from foreign governments and international agencies as it felt a national effort would be adequate. But once the scale of rehabilitation needed became apparent, UPA told bilateral donors they could channel assistance through agencies.

India does accept assistance but is finicky about how it’s routed. It’s important to avoid a misplaced sense of pride in the face of a calamity. In March 2011, following the east Japan earthquake, Japan didn’t hesitate to accept India’s assistance in the form of a rescue and relief team, and aid in kind. Accepting assistance following a natural disaster doesn’t harm reputations. Even the US accepted help from 36 countries and international organisations after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

UAE’s offer to the Kerala government is a fraction of its needs. The state government wants the Centre to enhance its borrowing limit by another Rs 10,500 crore and also help it with a special package of Rs 2,600 crore. At this juncture, Centre should not just offer assistance, but also be open-minded about international offers of financial help or technical expertise. Kerala has the onerous task of rebuilding social infrastructure and getting people back on their feet. Houses now stand partly submerged in silt deposits after floodwaters receded. Keeping relief camps well supplied and preventing disease is another challenge. India’s real source of pride will be Kerala’s ability tobounce back quickly after being at the receiving end of a terrible calamity.