Kerala floods: Donors doubts on fake messages in social media

In the current pathetic condition of Kerala, where the death toll has touched the 400 mark and lakhs are struggling in relief camps, there are audios and forwarded messages in the social media platforms that are confusing people regarding the donations that they are offering.There is an audio where a person is appealing to people to not send any relief material, as there is already so much left unused and warned about the monetary help that they are doing, as there will be many scamsters involved and to send only to genuine organisations.

The audio also says that Kerala needs labour more than anything like carpenters, plumbers, electricians as the situation will get back to normalcy soon and these people will be needed the most. People in Kerala are ‘super rich’ and they have ‘massive egos’, and will not take it if they are treated like ‘beggars or victims'’ So he asks not to send any unnecessary items in the bucket lists that are being forwarded like old clothes and match sticks for instance.

There is also another message that is being forwarded saying not to believe such audio files. The message said, “In every school and every college there is a relief camp. There are thousands in these camps who are not aware if their houses would be in one piece when they get back. They have no clothes, no beds, nothing in their houses and many are in need of a helping hand.”

Users discretion is needed in believing forward messages. Mr Vishwajith Kampati, Director, Enforcement Vigilance Disaster Management, said, “It’s foolish to say not to send any relief material. During any disaster, immediately all the relief material that is collected will be sent to a staging area. From there onwards, it is decided which area needs how much and will be distributed from there. People who might have seen the material in the staging area, might think that, there is lot of material and there is no need to send, but as of now, we can send everything to Kerala, they are in such need.