KOZHIKODE: Kudumbasree is adding one more feather to its cap with a housing project for the rural poor with the active participation of the local community.
The Snehaveedu project in Kozhikode district has already identified 34 Community Development Societies (CDSs) to launch the programme using Snehanidhi funds raised by its members.
“We will be spending around Rs 3.5 lakh to 4 lakh per house. However, what is even more important is that the local communities are coming forward with their contributions in work hours," Ummer Basheer, district coordinator, told DC.
"Many have told us that they will take up construction works free of cost or roof works free of cost. Some offer raw materials free of cost”.
All members of CDSs contribute one rupee to Rs 10 towards the Snehanidhi fund and this is being used for funding construction.
“When we launched the programme at Kunnamangalam by laying the foundation stone. There we got excess raw materials as donations and then we thought of a programme to take it forward. We called a meeting of CDS chairpersons and discussed this and everyone was positive. More than the money spent, what makes this programme unique is the active participation of ordinary workers,” he said.
To identify the beneficiary families, Kudumbasree has formed a selection committee headed by CDS chairpersons and the member secretary.
“We have told all ward members to suggest families who could be beneficiaries. The final decision will be taken by the committee,” he said.
"Some beneficiaries of the government’s free housing schemes could not construct a house due to various factors and there are families where everyone is down with some diseases or there are nobody to use the funds properly. So here the CDSs take the responsibility to construct houses for them”.
