Reportedly on monday, the kerala state government declared coronavirus as a state disaster or state calamity. This is perhaps the first time in the country that a disease outbreak was declared as a state calamity. Accordingly a state Executive Committee chaired by Chief Secretary tom Jose, with Secretaries of home, Finance, health and Disaster Management Authority as members, took the decision in this regard.
Furthermore according to sekhar Kuriakose, member Secretary of the state Disaster Management Authority, the decision to declare a state calamity was taken after assessing the situation. He added that it all depends on how unique a situation is as well as its potential future. The biggest 'advantage' of declaring a calamity is that it empowers district collectors to respond to the situation under the ambit of disaster management.
sekhar Kuriakose said. “The Collectors will have more power and they will be able to address the situation differently. The flow of money will from State Disaster Response Fund will be smoother as well". Moreover apart from the ravaging floods of 2018 and 2019, the state had earlier declared Puttingal Devi temple fireworks tragedy in Paravur in kollam district as a state calamity. The fire tragedy had claimed 110 lives. Even though, a much bigger outbreak, the spread of nipah virus in 2018 claimed 17 lives, it was not declared a calamity.
