Life Mission holds objectives to monitor and report the progress of reconstruction of fully damaged houses. It assists sanction from various agencies and the provision of building materials and manpower at minimum cost. Appropriate materials and technologies are advised upon by Life Mission to create awareness on the resilient and eco-friendly construction.
In 2018, a dark mark fell upon Kerala, witnessing the worst flood disaster in nearly a century after 1924 due to unusual high rainfall during monsoon. Over 483 people died, 140 are not found. One-sixth of the total population of Kerala had been affected by the deluge and relat=ed incidents; the state had been placed on red alert. For the first time in history, 35 dams out of the 54 in the state were opened. Heavy rains in districts of Idukki and Wayanad caused severe land- slides where several families lost houses and lands. The State Government took effective measures immediately to manage this catastrophe. The Government had taken immediate action plans to rebuild Kerala from this natural calamity. The effective co-ordination of Government and non-governmental agencies, public and various levels of people by the State Government made Kerala recover from this tragedy within a short period. As per the primary statistics, 15,473 houses were completely damaged. The final date for the reception of application for the damaged houses in the flood was extended till 30th June. These houses are rebuilt by families themselves through sponsorships. For reconstruction, the Governmentoffices consists of civil engineers, technical assistants and field staffs. To record the progress of each and every fully damaged houses under construction, a mobile application was developed. The field staffs in the facilitation hubs visit these houses and beneficiaries once in a month and records the construction progress in the mobile app with its recent photograph. Many companies in the construction field with alacrity has offered their products like hardware, sanitary wares, plumbing and wirings items on a subsidised rate up to 60% to the beneficiaries of Rebuild Kerala. We hope this initiative itself can save a minimum of one lakh rupees upon the construction cost of a house. has sanctioned financial assistance of Rs 4 lakhs per family. In case of self-construction houses, this financial assistance is transferred directly to the beneficiary’s bank account on instalment basis as per the stages of completion; 25% on the beginning, 50% on completion of foundation and 25% on completion of the lintel, respectively. The Government of Kerala, very much responsible in monitoring the construction progress, entrusted the LIFE Mission (which implements the total housing mission in the state) to monitor and facilitate the construction of flood-affected houses in the state. Life Mission holds objectives to monitor and report the progress of reconstruction of fully damaged houses. It assists sanction from various agencies and the provision of building materials and manpower at minimum cost. Appropriate materials and technologies are advised upon by Life Mission to create awareness on the resilient and eco-friendly construction. In order to facilitate these activities, under the monitoring of District Mission Offices, LIFE Mission initiated facilitation hubs in coordination with the affected blocks. These facilitation hubs operating in block offices consists of civil engineers, technical assistants and field staffs. To record the progress of each and every fully damaged houses under construction, a mobile application was developed. The field staffs in the facilitation hubs visit these houses and beneficiaries once in a month and records the construction progress in the mobile app with its recent photograph. Many companies in the construction field with alacrity has offered their products like hardware, sanitary wares, plumbing and wirings items on a subsidised rate up to 60% to the beneficiaries of Rebuild Kerala. We hope this initiative itself can save a minimum of one lakh rupees upon the construction cost of a house.
