Climate change is posing a real and immediate challenge to our state. According to IMD, thus far we’ve only received half the rainfall we were supposed to receive. However, last year we experienced unprecedented rains, especially in the second quarter of the monsoon. It means that climate change is upon us. Therefore, we have put forward the idea of ​​a climate-resilient Nava Keralam. We are trying to rebuild Kerala as a new state with the potential to survive severe droughts and floods. That is what we are trying to achieve through the Rebuild Kerala Initiative. It is a special intervention that cares about the future of our state. More than a typical government project, it is a program with unique and far-reaching dimensions.

 

Although the rescue, recovery and rehabilitation were carried out satisfactorily on a mission basis, it should be noted that the floods affected one-sixth of the State’s population. It will take time and determined efforts to ensure recovery and all-round growth. The fact that we could ensure that there was no major health-related epidemic the post floods stands testimony to the effectiveness of the community-based health care system which the state has nurtured over a period of time.

 

Understanding the geographical sensitivity of the region and quantum of losses of such calamities we have endeavoured to take this as a challenge and as an opportunity to rebuild the State to ensure better standards of living to all the sections of the society. This ‘Build Back Better and Fast recovery strategy’ rests on the four pillars of-

 

1. Knowledge, innovation and technology

2. Inclusive and people-centred approaches

3. Eco-sensitive and risk-informed approaches to land use and settlements

4. Integrated water resource management

 

This build back better philosophy is in-line with the State’s ‘Nava Kerala karma padhathi’ under which we had launched four missions in November 2016, for comprehensive development in the fields of health, education, housing and water conservation-sanitation-sustainable agriculture.

 

To create the vision for rebuilding a resilient Kerala, RKI and all the State Departments have collaborated to outline the roadmap in the form of the Rebuild Kerala Development Programme (RKDP). RKDP was developed through a consultative and inclusive approach of public and expert consultations and is based on both Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and Joint Rapid Disaster Needs Assessment (JRDNA). 

 

RKI is one of the largest programmes ever implemented by the state and will take three years to reach its completion. This, in turn, is a continuation of one of the most extensive rescues and relief efforts in the history of Kerala. More than 5,00,000 people were rescued during the floods. More than 10,000 relief camps were opened and more than 15 lakh people got temporarily displaced. 

 

Restoring power and water supply were the immediate priority. Within weeks after the floods 16,158 transformers, 19 power stations and 50 substations were repaired and restored. KSEB lost infrastructure worth Rs.820 crore. Floods damaged water pumps, mud pipes and even drain pipes. Initially, the water authority delivered freshwater through tankers. After the floodwaters receded water supply system was completely restored. As part of relief efforts, 6,91,463 houses were cleaned. Carcasses of 14,657 animals and more than 6,00,000 birds were safely buried in three days. The entire water source including three lakh wells was disinfected. Thousands of tons of solid waste was removed. As a result of such vigorous activities, not a single epidemic was reported after the flood. This earned worldwide recognition. 

 

Rebuilding of Kerala began with the restoration of infrastructure lost during the Flood. As part of that, 16,954 km of flood-damaged roads were restored of which 7,602 km of the road had to be built afresh. PWD restored 656 culverts and 127 bridges. 

 

A total of 6,96,617 families returning home from relief camps were provided with a pack containing 22 essentials items. 7,08,656 families received food items worth Rs.500 each. Emergency assistance of Rs.10,000 was given to 6,92,181 families and Rs.200 crore was provided as relief to farmers. An amount of Rs.21.70 crore has been provided as compensation to 27,363 families who lost their livestock. Adalats were conducted to issue new documents to those who lost certificates and ration cards. 

 

The next phase of the restoration was making homes inhabitable. 15,521 houses were completely destroyed in the floods. Of these, 10,665 families are building homes on their own with government funding. Cooperative department’s CARE Home project is building 2,000 homes of which more than 1,500 have been completed already. 1,259 houses are being built under the direct sponsorship of organizations. A total of 6,186 houses have been completed under various schemes. There are 532 families who lost both their lands and homes and 1,110 people in ‘puramboke’ land lost their homes. Government is implementing measures to rehabilitate them considering their convenience and interest. 

 

A total of 2,63,529 homes were partially damaged. Up to 31 July 2019 out of the 1,33,054 houses which were considered 15 per cent damaged, 1,29,868 families got financial assistance of Rs.10,000 each. Of the 78,778 homes, which were damaged between 16 and 29 per cent, 75,352 were given Rs.60,000 each. Out of the 36,104 houses damaged from 30 to 59 per cent, 31,927 houses were provided with Rs.1.25 lakh each. Of the 15,593 houses damaged from 60 to 74 per cent, 14,353 houses got financial assistance of Rs.2.5 lakh each.

 

The vast majority of the people in flood-affected areas had lost their livelihoods. Creating a sustainable livelihood for them is vital. Under Kudumbasree, interest-free loans worth Rs.1397.41 crore was sanctioned to normalize the lives of those who lost their livelihoods in the floods. For these loans, the government has agreed to pay the interest as per the Resurgent Kerala Loan Scheme. Total 1,65,769 people in 24,753 neighbourhood groups were benefited through these loans. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREG) spent Rs.559 crore to benefit 10.87 lakh families. A bank revitalization scheme is being implemented to revive small and medium enterprises, commercial establishments and shops. Rs.92.83 crore has been provided as loan assistance to 1,223 MSMEs and SHGs. 

 

Government has announced a moratorium on farmers’ loans for a year to withstand the losses caused by the floods in agriculture. An amount of Rs.287 crore has been disbursed as compensation for crop losses and to make land fit for sowing. These interventions paid rich dividends;  Kuttanad had a record paddy harvest after the floods. Rs.40 crores were utilized for the revival of the aquaculture sector.

 

Rs.4,000 crore for emergency reconstruction was made available from the 2018-19 plan outlay of various departments. In the current budget elements for reconstruction is given emphasis. Priority is given to sustainable livelihoods, employment generation and strengthening public amenities. Rs.4,852 crore is earmarked for job creation and Rs.335 crore was set apart for self-employment projects. It aims to create jobs in the areas of agricultural and rural development. As part of this, around 50,000 persons are being trained in the ARISE (Acquiring Resilience and Identity through Sustainable Employment) program. So far, 47,105 people have registered for it so far.

All this is made possible by the generous support extended by Malayalis and the lovers of Kerala from around the world. As of 30 June 2019, the CM’s relief fund has received Rs.3,861.98 crore. Rs.2,600.62 crore was donated by individuals and institutions. Rs.834.99 crore came through Salary Challenge, Rs.117.69 crore from the bonus and Rs.308.68 crore from the   Beverages Corporation.

 

Rs.1917 crore was allocated for various needs till May 31. The districts allotted Rs.692.181 crore for providing emergency relief. The total allocation for the rebuilding of 2,47,897 houses in the districts was Rs.1318.61 crore. The Co-operative Department has allotted Rs.44.98 crore for the care home project. Rs.54 crores have been allotted as loan assistance to farmers. have 42.73 crores has been allotted to the Civil Supplies Department for providing food packets. The government has also decided to allocate Rs.1,398 crore to relocate 18,655 fishermen families to safer locations.

 

In this manner, we are moving into the Rebuilding Kerala Initiative. We have brought international organizations together under the leadership of the World Bank on one platform to help us. As a preliminary step, the government held a Development Partners’ Conclave. The government sought to secure the necessary financial and technical assistance. Sector-wise financing talks were held in the Conclave with organizations such as World Bank, ADB, JICA, KFW, UNDP and DFID. The Conclave held a series of discussions on the areas in which resource mobilization and technical assistance could be required and provided. We have secured World Bank’s first installment of Rs.1,724 crore and KFW’s first installment. The first level of involvement will be on rural roads and other areas that have been affected by floods. 

 

Essentially through comprehensive efforts, we are taking lessons from history in this colossal task. We are trying to build a sustainable future. Just like how we overcame the floods together we can emerge victorious in the rebuilding efforts as well, provided we stand together. Let our unity be our biggest strength, as we realise a Nava Keralam.