Government had been swift, collaborative, comprehensive and effective in rescue and relief operations. Kerala Government established the Rebuild Kerala Initiative (RKI) to “bring about a perceptible change in the lives and livelihoods of its citizens by adopting higher standards of infrastructure for recovery and reconstruction, and to build ecological and technical safeguards so that the restructured assets could better withstands floods in the future”.

 

The RKI’s mandate is to develop, coordinate, facilitate and monitor the Rebuild Kerala Development Programme (RKDP) through a participatory and inclusive process. The RKDP constitutes the State’s strategic road map for a Green and Resilient Kerala. The RKDP encompasses crosscutting and sector-based policy, regulatory and institutional actions as well as priority investment programs. These are critical for resilient and sustainable recovery and rebuilding of the State. It aims to catalyse rebuilding of Kerala in a way that addresses key drivers of floods and other natural disasters and climate change risks. Simultaneously, it strengthens the preparedness against future disasters. Activities aimed at reconstructing Kerala are progressing on the basis of well-laid plans. 

An International Development Partnership Conclave held on 15th of July 2019 at Leela Raviz, Kovalam. It was a major step towards rebuilding efforts. RKI organized the conclave to explore synergies between development partners and Kerala government. The potential partnership would help the state in meeting its overall reform agenda as identified in the RKDP. The areas of Integrated Water Resources Management, livelihoods related sectors of Agriculture, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, etc., infrastructure sectors of roads, bridges, water supply, etc. and some cross-cutting sectors of Disaster Risk Management, Environment, Institutional Efficiency and Open Data were focused in the meet.

 

At the conclave, World Bank representative Junaid Ahmed announced that the state is going to emerge as an Indian state with World Bank Development Partnership. The World Bank has been identified as a development partner rather than a typical project partner and is assisting with the restructuring of Kerala. After many years, the World Bank has made the state a development partner. 

 

The World Bank, ADB, JICA, KFW and New Development Bank have pledged their support and assistance for the reconstruction of the state. The NABARD and HUDCO agencies said they would provide assistance to the urban water supply and roads. The Tata Trust, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the IFDC Foundation have also announced their support for specific decision-making projects and to support the efficiency of various departments.

The Conclave included various stakeholders in the restructuring process of the state in keeping with the RKDP. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the conclave’s experience is proof that we can move towards that goal with a firm foothold. 

 

RKDP aims to build a new Kerala that is environment-friendly and resilient. Representatives of various national and international agencies participated in the conclave expressed great interest towards Kerala. We will be receiving loans and financial and technological aid from the agencies. The participants of the conclave communicated with ministers and department secretaries. CM elucidated on the steps taken in terms of leadership and the developmental interventions as part of RKI. 

Through the long term RKDP, a development perspective that involves fundamental reforms and a novel approach is proposed. One of the foundation stones of this project is to set up a comprehensive risk management system. Reducing the impact of environmental and climatic changes is another one of the objectives. Enhancing the capability and protection of the related institutions and the open data system are the two of the other objectives.

Support and basic amenities provided by the government immediately after the disaster were explained in the conclave. The attempts of government to recuperate the means of livelihood were highlighted. However, rather than what has been done so far, attention was mainly paid to what is to be done hereafter. Kerala proposed an idea to make this crisis an opportunity to identify potential disasters and reconstruct the state in such a way that it can face any similar challenges. It is on this basis that the fundamental principles, styles and plans for rebuild were adopted through RKI. 

Areas and projects discussed in the conclave.

 

WATER DISTRIBUTION

 

There is a plan to set up 10 water treatment plants, which will be in 10 municipalities, through water authority. For the basic amenities, development of water distribution in rural areas, there are 12 projects in consideration. 

The completion of water authority’s incomplete projects, the use of non-conventional energy including solar, replacing of inefficient pumps, electrical system etc is also proposed. A detailed plan outline will be prepared for developing a sewage-septage system for Kochi and Trivandrum.

Joint Water Resources Management

The post-flood repair work of dams, regulators and canals, modern technological system for the removal of sand from dams and reservoirs etc will be undertaken as part of joint water resource management project. 

SANITATION

 

Septage treatment plants, e-waste, plastic management system, facility for glass waste recycling and categorizing, collection centers at government offices, district level facilities to collect and categorize non-biological waste etc. will be part of waste management system.

 

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Water distribution projects, sewage-septage management facility, storm-water drainage, urban transportation projects, reconstruction of roads ruined in urban local bodies etc have gained prominence in the urban development projects. 

 

LIVELIHOOD

There will be policy intervention to ensure effective implementation of livelihood projects. Additional days of employment for the members of Mahatma Gandhi National 

Employment Guarantee Scheme, skill training for the youngsters that will be conducive for different employments, community enterprise fund for Kudumbasree and 

community disaster management force in every ward are part of the plan. 

 

FORESTRY 

Support will be given for projects aiming to protect natural forests as well as the small forests and groves. Priority will be given to nourishing the native flora. The forest department will implement projects with people’s participation, to preserve rivers, wetlands, and the forest on their banks, and will connect this to people’s livelihood.

 

FISHERIES

Special arrangement will be made for raising fishes in water reservoirs and growing pearls and the likes. Priority is being given to creating employments in the rural areas. Preserving the local varieties of fish will be emphasized. 

 

AGRICULTURE

Strengthening of village markets, 

comprehensive and sustainable agricultural development programme for Attappadi, Athirappalli tribal valley agricultural project, and programme to control floods in 

Kuttanadu and Kole fields are the priorities in the sector of agriculture.

 

 

SOIL AND WATER PRESERVATION

Preservation of ponds, soil health mapping at ward level, watershed management and region based micro water irrigation will be carried out as part of soil and water preservation. 

 

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Manufacturing preventive vaccines for rabies, comprehensive insurance package for cattle, margin free veterinary medical shops, elaborate plans for manufacturing cattle food, formation of dairy zones, etc. are the part of this section.

 

ROADS AND BRIDGES

Institutional road map for road management will be made for the Public Works Department. Road maintenance management system that involves geo-spatial mapping will also be created. Micro surfacing and the use of coir geo-textile for roads will be considered. 

 

TRANSPORTATION

Technical Directorate of Transportation will be established for the management and renovation of transportation sector and attracting investments. Green bus corridors will be set up across the state. 

 

In short, we are turning the challenges rising from the disaster into opportunities to withstand any future challenge.