New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the government would extend more aid to Kerala for rehabilitation purposes in the flood affected areas once the full estimate of the damage was done.

Addressing the ‘India for Kerala’ conclave in Thiruvananthapuram, organised by the Times Network in association with the Times Foundation, via video message, he said the Centre’s focus for the state was two-pronged.

“While carrying out relief activities, we are also focusing on the emergence of a new Kerala,” he said.

Jaitley said insurance companies have been directed to settle claims and banks asked to give loans so that people can get “a breathing space in rebuilding their lives”.

“Further aid from the Central government will be given once the full estimate of the damage is done.

I am sure we will see the quality of life for the Keralites reinstated”, Jaitley said.

Kerala had asked for a special package and stated that loss and damage could be much more than it’s plan outlay of Rs 37,272.90 crore for 2018-19.

Inaugurating the event, governor P Sathasivam said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had clarified to him that the Rs 600 crore released by the Centre in addition to the Rs 562.45 crore already made available to the State Disaster Response Fund was only advance aid.

The Prime Minister had also informed him that additional funds would be released from the National Disaster Response Fund as per the laid down procedure, he said.

Shashi Tharoor, MP, said Kerala needed more financial support and help to rebuild the state.

On the reported Rs 700 crore UAE aid to the state, he said ‘I would like to clarify that there are far richer countries than India which have accepted such aid’.