KOCHI: The Government decision to discontinue the Poverty Alleviation Programme for Mattanchery (PAM) has led to uncertainties. The local MLA, who is the vice-chairman of the project, said he would request for the continuation of the project.

Previous government introduced the project, first of its kind in the country. Development works for the region, up to about Rs.55 crore, were declared to be taken up over a period of five years and the Government formed a monitoring and advisory committee with the Local Self Government Minister as chairman and the local MLA as vice-chairman.

This was approved by the Union Government under the Suvarna Jayanti Sahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY). "All projects approved under the SJSRY across the country are implemented through local bodies, whereas this was done directly. Even then, we were in support of the project, provided things were done transparently," said C.K. Manisankar, Deputy Mayor.

In fact, the representatives of the Corporation were planning to place a request at the last monitoring-cum- advisory committee meeting, held on October 31, that the project should be extended through out West Kochi.

However, this was not made after the Minister sounded winding up of the project. "The Minister asked to prepare projects for the funds already released so that they do not lapse," said V.K. Ebrahim Kunju, MLA. So far development works for Rs.2.67 crore were initiated and Rs.2 crore more remained to be utilised.

A report presented by the project office said 1,200 applications for the urban self-employment projects were received for a target of 700 and of this, 850 were selected. The banks associated with the scheme approved 727 projects and a subsidy amount of Rs.49,21,457 was released.

It said 85 out of the 100 targeted group ventures were formed, 915 vocational training programmes under 24 different faculties were initiated and renovation project prepared for Women and Children Hospital at Mattanchery.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail