The Hindu 30.07.2010
Minister to inaugurate flats for urban poor
Staff Reporter
The new residential complex has been built at a cost of
Rs. 1.53 crore in record time.
KOCHI: The inauguration of 36 flats in a four-storied building in Kakkanad on Friday by Minister for Forests and Housing Benoy Viswom marks yet another landmark for the Kerala State Housing Board, which has been the pioneer in the State for providing housing for the economically weaker sections of the society.
The new residential complex, built at a cost of Rs. 1.53 crore in record time, is a great step towards finding homes for the poor urban workers from distant places, who are forced to stay within the city limits for their jobs.
On 18 cents of land
Housing Board's Regional Engineer James Jacob said that the residential complex, the first of a pair, has come up on 18.23 cents of land available with the Housing Board under Vazhakkala Village, at Kakkanad.
The complex has nine residential flats, each having a plinth area of 268 sq. ft., in each floor. Each of the units has a bedroom, a hall, kitchen and toilet.
Facilities like water and electricity supply; rainwater harvest, motors and pumps have been provided for along with road and drainage.
When the State Government approved the project in December 2008, one of the conditions was that 33 per cent of the space should be reserved for women workers.
Homeless families coming under the BPL category; widows, divorcees and unmarried women under the BPL category; women workers under BPL category, who are forced to travel from distant places to the city on a daily basis for their work are eligible to apply for the allocation of the flats.
The allotment of the flats will be in the joint name of husband and wife. In the case of flats reserved for women, it will be in their name.
Applications for allotment of the flats can be made in the prescribed format to be made public through newspaper advertisements.
Allotment
The allotment will be made by a committee comprising the Chairman/Secretary of KSBH; ward member of the Local Body in which the scheme is situated; District Social Welfare Officer; president of the local body in which the scheme is located; Councillors in the local bodies and Executive Engineer of the Housing Board.
The Allotment Committee may co-opt more members but at least two of the members have to be women.
Monthly rent
The monthly rent for the flat varies between Rs. 300 and Rs. 600 for the various categories and the advance amount has been fixed as three months' rent.