The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Housing scheme for homeless launched

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Kerala - Kochi

Housing scheme for homeless launched

Staff Reporter

Under the scheme, 5,569 persons to benefit
Cost of the house would come to Rs.1.2 lakh

KOCHI: A housing scheme for the homeless living in the city and adjoining areas was launched on Thursday.

Fisheries Minister S. Sarma inaugurated the scheme and also handed over the first instalment of the financial assistance to the beneficiaries.

The Basic Services for the Urban Poor scheme, implemented with the support of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, aims to provide assistance to build individual houses for those who own at least 1.5 cents. Under the scheme, 5,569 persons will receive assistance. The houses built under the scheme would cost around Rs. 1.2 lakh, said Kochi Mayor Mercy Williams.

Nearly 90 per cent of the expense for building the houses would come as assistance from various agencies including the Kochi Corporation and the Mission. The beneficiaries need to spend 10 per cent of the project cost. For those who are unable to make the payments, bank loans have also been arranged. The long-term loan has been made available at an interest of 4 per cent, she said.

A personal insurance and another one for the house have also been provided at an annual premium of Rs. 50. The personal insurance and house insurances will be for Rs. one lakh each. Weaker sections of the society have also been given preference while selecting the beneficiaries, civic authorities said.

Ms. Williams presided over the meeting.

Though the civic authorities have launched the individual housing unit scheme on Thursday, the uncertainty over multiple dwelling units continues.

The repeated efforts of the civic body to find builders for the multiple dwelling units have not succeeded.

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