Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has said that ₹30,000 crore would be needed to rebuild the flood-ravaged State. He was speaking at the launch of the Nava Kerala special lottery here on Monday.
“A sum of ₹20,000 crore is required for the reconstruction of bridges, buildings, bunds, and houses and to provide compensation to farmers and others. Another ₹10,000 crore is needed for livelihood assistance. The State government will have to find ₹6,000 crore through various means. The Nava Kerala lottery is one of the measures to raise funds,” Dr. Isaac said.
Public Works Minister G. Sudhakaran, who presided over the function, said the government would be able to raise ₹750 crore if people of the State bought at least one lottery ticket each.
The special lottery, aimed at mobilising funds for flood relief operations in the State, was launched by Dr. Isaac by handing over a lottery ticket to Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala. The money received from the ticket sales will be utilised to provide relief to the flood-affected people and for rebuilding purpose. The price of a ticket is ₹250 and the government expects a net profit of ₹85 crore from ticket sales. The draw of lots will be held on October 3.
Officials said that there would be 90 first prizes ₹1 lakh and ₹5,000 on 1,08,000 tickets. Other than lottery agents, individuals, non-governmental organisations, service organisations, clubs, school-college PTAs and resident associations can sell Nava Kerala lottery tickets. The government has set a 25% commission for those selling tickets.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister P. Thilothaman, district panchayat president G. Venugopal, District Collector S. Suhas, Kerala State Lotteries Department director M. Anjana and joint director G. Geetha Devi also spoke.
