The proposed visit of Kerala minister Mercykutty Amma to Australia for  Kerala flood relief fund raising may not go ahead. Mercykutty was expected to land in Sydney on 18^th October to attend a fundraising function at Burnside Gardens Community Centre on 19^th October. Though not confirmed, a report from Trivandrum says, the Centre Government is yet to approve the overseas trips of Kerala Ministers for fund raising except for the Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan. If the approval did not come within two days, the minister will have to cancel her Australian tour.

Pinarayi Vijayan will leave for UAE on 16^th October. The Centre Government has approved Pinarayi’s foreign trip with strict conditions, which include restrictions on meeting with UAE Officials for the purpose.

Most consider these ministerial extravaganzas as unnecessary. Kerala based organisations in Australia have already donated large sums to Chief Ministers relief fund out of compassion. Recently it also came to public notice that the money from Chief Ministers Relief fund was used to pay the debts of a deceased former Member of the Legislative assembly from the ruling party.

The Centre Government has maintained that the country had a longstanding policy of relying on domestic resources, which they insist are adequate for natural calamities like Kerala Floods.