Kerala - Kannur   

2,557 houses for Adivasis

Tribal welfare: Minister for Welfare of Scheduled and Backward Communities A.K. Balan inaugurating the Aralam Model Rehabilitation and Development Scheme at Valayamchal in Kannur on Saturday. Forest Minister Benoy Viswom is also seen.

KANNUR: Minister for Welfare of Scheduled and Backward Communities A.K. Balan has said that the State government will construct 2,557 houses for rehabilitated Adivasis at the Aralam Farm here.

He was speaking at a function to mark the inauguration of the Aralam Model Rehabilitation and Development Scheme at Valayamchal here on Saturday.

Mr. Balan said the fund earmarked by the government for workers’ wages under the scheme would be made available to the Adivasis as Adivasi youths in the farm were being trained in construction work.

He said the government planned to utilise the labour of similarly trained tribal people for construction work in the State in an effort to end unemployment among the Adivasis.

Mr. Balan said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government was committed to progress and development of marginalised communities. An estimated 1,32,000 Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste people (SC), including 35,000 Adivasis, were homeless in the State. The LDF government had initiated efforts to address this problem immediately after coming to power, he said.

Mr. Balan said that earlier, utilisation of funds earmarked for the welfare of SCs/STs accounted for 67 to 72 per cent of the allocation. The percentage of utilisation was now 94 to 96 per cent.

He said the State government was now making use of Central funds which had not been utilised.

He said the government was taking steps to ensure supply of electricity to houses of SCs/STs.

Forest Minister Benoy Viswom inaugurated the model scheme. He said 350 Adivasi youths would be offered training in construction work. Construction of houses at the farm would be completed in 20 months, he said.

K.K. Shylaja, MLA, presided over the function. District Collector Ishita Roy was present.

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