Kerala: Co-ops led by ULCCS are doing their best to help people

Even as Kerala is grappling with a grave flood situation caused by incessant heavy rains cooperatives are active extending their helping hand to the flood affected people. Several co-op organizations led by ULCCS have been active in helping people out of the tough situations.

Besides the support of manpower and resources, some of them have also made cash contributions. The latest news is the largest labour cooperative in the country- Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) has given a cheque of Rs 25 lakhs towards the Kerala Chief Minister flood relief fund.

“In the wake of Kerala reeling from the worst flood in several decades, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had called upon the people to make generous contributions towards the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund and this prompted us to make the contribution”, said an ULCCS official.

ULCCS chairman Rameshan Paleri personally handed over the cheque to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Besides Chairman, ULCCS Managing Director Shaju S and CEO-ULCCS Group Raveendran Kasthuri and others were present on the occasion.

There are reports of several other cooperatives supplying essential items like medicines, sanitary napkins, water cans and food for the victims.

Meanwhile, after making an overall assessment of the situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an additional relief of Rs 500 crore. The Prime Minister has also declared compensation for families and next of kin of those injured and killed in the flood.

Amidst several organizations- govt, army, co-ops and NGOs- the role of RSS volunteers in helping people out from the fury of floods has caught media attention. Several photographs of them risking their lives to help the locals are doing rounds on social media.

It is reported that over 7.8 lakh people have been shifted to relief camps, 8000 houses have been washed away, and around 26,000 houses are partly damaged. Many areas in the state are still being lashed by heavy rains which is hampering rescue work, say media reports.

As the state government has pegged initial loss at around Rs 200 billion, the cooperative banks are going to have a huge NPAs in the given situation as they are the primary lenders so far as farming is concerned.