Plan for immediate and long-term needs of Wayanad landslides-hit families sees progress

The Hindu

6 days ago

Special schemes formulated by the Local Self-Government department to ensure livelihood for the survivors of the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides in Wayanad district are progressing well, Minister for Local Self-Governments M.B. Rajesh said in an official statement on the eve of the first anniversary of the disaster. Micro plans were prepared for each family to address their immediate and long-term needs, with skill training and employment provided to the survivors.
Mr. Rajesh lauded the efforts of the Kudumbashree Mission and the MGNREGS State Mission for their crucial role in the reconstruction efforts at Mundakkai-Chooralmala. As part of the micro plan implementation, livelihood interventions have been completed for 349 families (including sponsorship) through Kudumbashree. In livelihood interventions, Kudumbashree has mobilised and provided livelihood support to 186 people through sponsorship.
Livelihood
Agricultural implements were distributed to 13 people through the Agriculture department. A total of 351 people have received skill training and training of 238 people is in progress. Out of these, 21 people have been provided employment till now. A team of 30 people who were trained in tailoring have started a bag manufacturing unit. Counseling support is being provided to the families through the Kudumbashree's Snehitha initiative.
Other provisions
Required nutritious food is being provided to 971 people through the Women and Child Development department. Health service interventions are in progress for 1,113 people through the Health department. The Education department and the local bodies have provided educational support to 223 children. Kudumbashree has received ₹3.61 crore from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) to provide a start-up fund and credit linked subsidy for families who have lost house, land and employment following the disaster. The initial interventions regarding this have been completed for 90 families.
The government is considering an interest subsidy scheme loan scheme by including 437 disaster-affected Kudumbashree neighborhood group members in the CMDRF fund, with the government taking over the interest payment. An interest subsidy of ₹1.67 crore is expected on the loan requirement of ₹8.57 crore. Discussions were held with the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) regarding the implementation of a new interest-free loan scheme for disaster-affected families. The scheme will be implemented through Kudumbashree.
A total of 1,084 families have been included under the micro plan which were prepared by considering the needs related to health, food and nutrition, education, livelihood, skill development and employment, and livelihood loan interventions. After the disaster, 28 neighborhood groups were provided with a revolving fund of ₹15,000 each. Vulnerability Reduction Fund of ₹1.5 lakh was provided to Attamala, Mundakkai and Chooralmala wards.
MGNREGS extension
Special permission was accorded to provide up to 150 days of employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to families here, through which a total of 12,681 work days were provided to 561 families. A total of 149 small roads, 8 drainages and 1 culvert have been completed at a total cost of ₹8.39 crore. Under the ₹38-crore project which is being implemented through MGNREGS, 236 small roads, 31 drainages, 22 culverts, 4 anganwadis, 3 cyclone shelters and 1 crematorium will be completed. The tendering of all the projects have been completed.