THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While 192 fishermen families have been provided flats at the Muttathra complex, official records put the number homeless people from the community at 4000 in the district.
Many families are still lodged in relief camps put up in schools. Experts say that those who have been provided flats in Muttathra require add-itional support systems including means of liv-elihood for women, self employment schemes, creche for children and medical facilities for the sick and elderly.
The livelihood, self help group schemes, elderly care, creche, educational facilities for children, recreational facilities have all been envisaged under the LDF Governemnt’s mega Life Mission. Experts say these facilities could be extended to housing complexes which are inhabited by socially and economically marginalised sections.
The government han-ded over the apartment complex 'Prateeksha (hope) to fishermen families from Valiyat-hura, Cheriyathura, Valiyathoppu and Che-riyathoppu recently.
Meanwhile, the people living in relief camps are struggling for a better life. The unhygienic conditions in the relief camps have resulted in serious health problems to the inmates. During the past five years two deaths have been reported in the area due to leptospirosis.
In Government UP school Valiyathura one class room has been occupied by three families. The locals say that admissions to the school have come down during the past few years because of the relief camp. “Parents are hesitant to send their children to a school-cum-relief camp,” said a local.
