WhatsApp clip irks officials, volunteers

The video clip – which was uploaded on social media on Sunday - was in muted Malayalam and obviously taken from a hand-held camera while travelling by boat through a posh area, which was deserted as residents – whose cars were seen submerged - have obviously moved to safer areas.

But in the audio clip, the speaker, who identifies himself as Suresh, constantly contradicts his own statements, saying that he had landed from Mumbai and was unable to reach his native place, a half-an-hour travel from Kochi due to non-availability of any mode of transport.

Stating that locals had no use for candles, matches and napkins “this could be given to some women’s colleges” – he says that those affected were the rich who do not need matches or candles as all houses in Kerala have electricity connection and the supply was expected to be restored in a week.

The need of the hour was a group of workers like painters, plumbers and electricians, as damaged electrical wiring and appliance would have to be repaired once the water subsides. “For those from other states Kerala is like Dubai as wagers here are very high,” he rants and adds “rates in Kerala are double that given for similar jobs in Hyderabad.”

“Nobody here wants rice, which should be given to the poor as the people are very egoistic and will throw back such rice at you” he adds. “They prefer to buy their own rice and will not accept rice given Re 1 per kg that is offered in Andhra Pradesh or Telangana” he avers.

He also says that roads to Kerala from Coimbatore and Mysore cities were blocked and a local indoor stadium was filled with relief materials which nobody wants. The Gujarathi association also has around 100 lorry loads of materials.

Responding to the clip, Tiruvannamalai collector KS Kandasamy said “the speaker should be from rich background and it is obvious that he has no concern for the poor. If the people are egoistic why are they going to the gulf naitons for petty jobs?” Insisting that a catastrophe-hit state cannot rebuild itself through relief materials, he said “what we are giving is only peanuts compared to the work ahead.”

R. Dushyant, social worker from Tiruvannamalai, said “when we see marooned people being helped into boats and relief being received with gratitude, it is hard to understand why a person is so critical such humane acts.”