By Najiya O
Kozhikode: When the worst floods in a century hit the state in August last year, the people of Kerala stood together without any barriers of caste, class or religion. And while the rehabilitation project and programmes of the government are moving slowly, different organisations are doing their part in the rebuilding of the state. The People’s Foundation based in Kozhikode has a rehabilitation project plan of Rs 20 crores to be carried out in 12 districts.
The total project includes the construction of 500 new houses, renovation of 1000 houses, 50 drinking water projects, health insurance cards for 5000 people, educational scholarship for 15000 students etc. The plan is to complete the total project in three phases, which began in September 2008 and will be completed in March 2020. The construction of more than 150 houses has begun and funds have been allocated for the repair of more than 600 houses. More than 500 persons were given help for self-employment and 300 students given educational help. More than 100 differently-abled people were given help. About 200 health cards have been distributed to the needy, and a few medical camps were also conducted.
The foundation stone for the People’s Township Project was laid by state Minister Ramachandran Kadannappalli on January 8 at Panamaram in Wayanad.
The Project will have 25 houses, community centre, playground, tuition centre, clinic, waste management plant etc on a 2.25 acre land. The beneficiaries are those who lost their houses near the Kabani River. The beneficiaries for this project are those families who were living on the un-used government land and who after the floods have neither land nor houses.
Another novel project is the People’s Village Project to be carried out at Mananthavadi in Wayanad, consisting of 16 houses.
The first house completed under the project was handed over to Jayadevan of Wayanad on January 7 at a function held at Panamaram. The foundation stone for the house was laid in October at Panamaram in Wayanad.
Jayadevan and wife had to flee to a rehabilitation camp with their son and autistic daughter when the heavy floods accompanied by landslides washed away their little house. As their 12-year old daughter was dependent on her parents for all her needs, the family began to live in a makeshift shed near the destroyed house. The construction of the 560 square-foot house was completed within three months and handed over to the needy family.
In addition to the financial help from several corners of the state and outside, some people also donated land for the construction of houses, such as Abdul Vahid Moulavi of Thiruvananthapuram. He gave away one acre of land owned by him in Idukki for the construction of houses. More than one acre land was given for the project by Sister Manikutty S Pilla of Kozhikode and Mammootty Valliyat of Wayanad.
The state level inauguration of the drinking water project was held in Alappuzha. The foundation aims at 50 drinking water projects, including beginning fresh projects and renewing the damaged ones. A total of 28 projects have been implemented in different parts of the state so far. Waste management is also a part of the rehabilitation project.
The Foundation carries out its projects in cooperation with the government. It had presented its project plan and executing areas to the Chief Minister. The new projects of People’s Township and People’s Village were also presented to the CM. Most of the beneficiaries of the projects are those identified by the government also as deserving but not able to receive government help due to technical reasons such as lack of land, not having ration card etc. The foundation also takes care to avoid duplication, so that same help doesn’t reach people from the government and the foundation.