KOCHI: For Vasu Palliyan, an octogenarian from Mulanthuruthy, this Vishu will be the most memorable one of his life. As the Malayalam calendar turns to a new year, he will step into his renovated house thanks to the Swapna Bhavana project. The project is initiated by Chittilappilly Foundation and funded by industrialist Kochouseph Chittilappilly. Vasu has been living in a decrepit house near Pallithazha junction in Mulanthuruthy for several years. He was a toddy tapper, but following a disease he lost his eyesight and has been living in a pathetic condition with his daughter, who is mentally unstable.
It was Piravom municipal councillor Gils Periappuram who took the initiative to include Vasu’s house in Swapna Bhavanam project. Earlier, Vasu’s family was under the threat of forcible eviction as he could not repay the loan taken from cooperative society. Following media reports, Suresh Gopi, MP, extended a helping hand and cleared the loan. When the family’s plight came to light, Mr. Periappuram visited the house and promised to renovate it through the Swapna Bhavanam. With the renovation works completed, Vasu and his daughter Shaila can now celebrate the Vishu in the new house. While the funds from state government's housing scheme are insufficient to finish house construction, several houses of the BPL families remain incomplete. Several such houses could be completed under the project.
“As part of the project more than 470 houses have been reconstructed in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts in two years. A total of 33 houses have been completed in Piravom municipality alone last year,” said George Sleeba, executive director of Swapna Bhavanam. For reconstructing a house, the Foundation will give Rs 50,000. But more funds will be provided where the house needs extensive work. Funds are being directly transferred to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts and there is strict monitoring to ensure judicious use of the funds.
