ALAPPUZHA: A flood-hit family at Pandanad, Chengannur, which did not find a place in the rebuild scheme of the government, can hope to live in a new house wi-thin three months thanks to the intervention by the Joyalukkas Foundation.
The foundation stone for a new house for P.T. Subrahmanyan, 38, Puth-ananthara Vadakathil, west Pandanad, was laid on Friday at the place of the old house which has been dismantled. Ever since the floods hit the area in August last and damaged a large number of houses, including that of Subrahmanyan, he and his family consisting of his ailing mother Ramani, 73, two kids Theertha, (class II) and Thejas, (UKG) and wife Sreelekha, were living in the house that was about to collapse.
His luck turned after DC carried a report titled ‘Flood-hit loses new house by a whisker’ on December 22 last and the Joyalukkas Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of jeweller Joyalukkas, included him in the list of beneficiaries of 250 houses being built for the flood victims.
Amal Vijay, programme coordinator of the foundation, said that the 495 sq-ft house worth '5 lakh would be finished within 90 days. “Under the rebuild scheme of the company, 250 houses costing '15 crore will be built,” he said.
Subrahmanyan, a daily wage worker, said that the government officials had refused to approve a new house for him as they estimated the damage was 74 percent. “As per the government’s rebuild Scheme, a new house will be sanctioned only if there is at least 75 percent damage,” he said.
Subrahmanyan and family had fled his house after the floodwater rose up to the top of the front door on the night of August 15. An IAF chopper that flew at a low altitude left his house shaking due to the heavy wind it caused.
The foundation stone was laid in the presence of Joyalukkas Foundation office-bearers, local body representatives, family members of Subrahman-yan and nearby residents. Pandanad panchayat president Sivankutty Ilarathil, ward member T.D. Mohan and Jerin T. John, Thiruvalla branch manager, Joyalukkas, also attended the function. .
