Ernakulam district is on the meritorious path of revival a year after the flood waters battered the region. Now, the district is striving from despair to hope as the flood-ravaged houses are being reconstructed or renovated, and financial aid is being distributed to the victims of this great deluge.
An amount of Rs.429.26 crores had been disbursed in the district to rebuild destroyed houses and restore partially damaged houses. In the first phase, 2,519 houses were found to be destroyed. The affected families who undertook construction activities on their own were given funds based on the progress of work and 1,719 houses were provided with the first quantum of funds, 1,567 houses the second portion of the money and 1,387 houses the third tranche of funds. In total, a sum of
Rs.61,01,45,950 was disbursed. An amount of Rs.3,64,27,10,000 had been given to 94,265 families whose houses sustained 15 to 74 per cent damage.
CARE HOME
The Department of Cooperation took the responsibility of building 337 houses under the Care Home project of the Government of Kerala. Out of the 337 houses, the construction of 280 houses had been completed. As many as 113 houses will be rebuilding through sponsorships of which work on 84 houses had been completed.
DATA ENTRY OF SECOND PHASE
APPEALS COMPLETED
The Government received 1,06,319 more applications after the time limit to appeal for flood relief was extended. The data entry of these details was also completed. Out of the 1,06,319 applications, close to 74,984 requests are eligible for consideration. As many as 31,335 applications were found to be duplicated. Field verifications are progressing on a war-footing.
IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FOR 1,79,879 FAMILIES
An amount of Rs.10,000 each was released to 1,79,879 families as immediate financial aid. All water-logged houses were given financial aid without considering the poverty line criteria.
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION CHURNED OUT 2.25 LAKH KITS WITH PEOPLE’S SUPPORT
The district administration distributed 2.25 lakh kits containing essential commodities such as rice, grains and sugar to flood-affected people who were returning to their homes from relief camps. The kits were prepared at Thrikkakara community hall, KBPS Kalamassery and Collectorate. People from all walks of life including students, retired officials, IT professionals, housewives and Kudumbashree workers were part of the kit-preparing process. The kits that came out of Kalamassery were all prepared by Kudumbashree workers.
SURGING WATERS COULD NOT WASH AWAY HER SPIRIT
Bhavani from Muvattupuzha, a woman of 75, was struck down by cancer when the surging waters washed her home away in August last year. Bhavani’s small house was devoured by the floods as the Kaliyar river was in spate during the deluge. The Government of Kerala through the Care Home project has built a new house for Bhavani and other eight families. The Enanalur Service Cooperative Bank took the responsibility of constructing a house for Bhavani under this project.
A new house for Bhavani was built in four months and the key was handed over to her. The Care Home project provided nine houses in various parts of the taluk to families who lost their homes in the flood. The Enanalur Service Co-operative Bank built two houses and Mekkadambu Service Co-operative Bank constructed four houses for the flood-affected people as part of the project. One house each was constructed by Payipra, Valakam and Maradi service co-operative banks under the project. These families are now staying under the safety of a roof heaving a sigh relief as they have been put behind the trauma unleashed by the August floods. The construction of the houses commenced in December and was completed in May 2019. The concerted efforts of the governing members of the co-operative banks, employees and officials of the Department of Co-operation helped hands for the completion of building houses in a short span. The banks were directly involved in the construction.
