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Community Development

JNNURM houses allotted to oustees, says Pradyumna

Thursday, 26 November 2009 02:30 administrator
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The Hindu 26.11.2009

JNNURM houses allotted to oustees, says Pradyumna

Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA: Municipal Commissioner P. S. Pradyumna has said that as many as 3,843 JNNURM houses have been allotted to the people evicted from various places in the city.

The beneficiaries would have to pay Rs. 10,000 as their contribution, for which a demand draft (DD) should be drawn in favour of Commissioner, VMC. The DD should be submitted in the Urban Community Development (UCD) wing of the Corporation.

Documentation should be completed in SBH, Gayatri Nagar branch.

Warning

Mr. Pradyumna said that the Corporation would cancel, without any notice, the houses allotted to the beneficiaries if any one other than the beneficiary was found to be living in it. While 448 houses were allotted in the ‘A’ block of Vambay colony, 1,344 houses were allotted in the ‘C’ Block of Vambay colony, and 300 houses in the H3 block of Vambay colony.

Likewise, 1,184, 224, 64,64 and 215 houses were allotted in New Rajarajeswaripeta, Radha Nagar, Sundarayya Nagar, Payakapuram and Jakkampudi, respectively.

Last Updated on Thursday, 26 November 2009 03:01
 

Dalit housing beneficiaries upset over BBMP’s about-turn

Saturday, 21 November 2009 02:53 administrator
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The Hindu 21.11.2009

Dalit housing beneficiaries upset over BBMP’s about-turn

Chitra V. Ramani

Civic body release funds only to demand it back

 

Five beneficiaries were chosen for the scheme

Each one was to get Rs. 3 lakh in four instalments

Bangalore: A scheme meant to enable those from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to build houses on their own, avoiding interference by middlemen, has brought them only grief because of confusion over a communiqué.

This has affected five beneficiaries of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s 22.75 per cent scheme for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. After releasing Rs.75,000 as first instalment for the scheme, BBMP officials are now demanding that the funds be returned, and the beneficiaries are crying foul.

On November 3, BBMP South Zone officials, including Additional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Chief Engineer and Executive Engineer (BTM Layout), chose five beneficiaries for the scheme — L. Annappa, Obalesh, Pedda Narasimha, Sheshadri and Thippakka. Orders were issued and the five were asked to sign an agreement. The beneficiaries duly stated they were ready to construct their own homes with grants sanctioned under the scheme by meeting 10 per cent of the construction cost and each was to get Rs. 3 lakh in four instalments. On November 16, the BBMP kept its side of the agreement by disbursing the first instalment of Rs. 75,000.

U-turn

Soon after, in an about-turn, officials claimed that the communiqué had stated that the funds were to be released to the beneficiaries only after they submitted photographic evidence of the progress of work and demanded that the five return the money. Rame Gowda, Deputy Commissioner (Welfare), claimed that the communiqué was clear. “We cannot release funds in advance as there was scope for misuse.”

Contesting this, M. Venkatesh, Bangalore District Convener, Dalit Bahujan Movement, told The Hindu that the communiqué clearly directed the officials to first release funds and then keep track of the work progress. “Where will poor people get funds to begin construction in the first place?” he asked.

He lamented that the BBMP’s interpretation of the communiqué defeated the very purpose of the scheme which was to empower Dalits to exercise housing rights.

Last Updated on Saturday, 21 November 2009 02:55
 

Where tradition meets urbanity

Monday, 16 November 2009 09:31 administrator
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The New Indian Express 16.11.2009

Where tradition meets urbanity

Keerthi Mohan



They are miles from home but still rooted to their tradition and culture. Girideepthi Tribal Hostel in Thrikkakara offers ample opportunities to the 51 boys lodged there to keep alive their unique traditions. The facilities provided to the students are far better than those in the government run tribal hostels.

Dance and music form an integral part of the lifestyle of tribals. Passed on from generations through oral traditions these art forms encompass their philosophy of life. About how they live in tune with nature, the circling of the seasons, rituals and entertainment.

Belonging to the Mannar, Muthuvan, Malayar and Ulladan tribal sects from Wayanad, Idukki and Munnar, these students get an opportunity to showcase their traditional songs and dance on Talent Day, which is held every week. “Performing these dances takes us to our huts that are exposed to wild animals and the vagaries of weather,” said a student who has adapted to the fast life during his stay at the hostel.

Set up by the Mar Thoma Students’ Conference in 1984 with just four students, the hostel aims to provide better living condition to tribal children.

“Our aim is to integrate those living in the forests with the others in society,” said Fr James Thomas, who is in charge of the hostel.

Earlier parents were reluctant to send their children far away, but now they know the importance of education and that life in the city will help them become independent, said Joji, a tutor in the hostel. When asked if these students were losing out on their tradition and culture, Joji retorts, “We are not trying to change their culture. The students don’t benefit by living in the forests.” “If we leave them there, they might get involved in criminal activities, as most of their parents are daily wage workers and can’t afford to give them three meals a day. When the children come back from vacation, they are all skin and bone,” said Fr Thomas.

To help them fit into this technology- driven world, these students are given computer lessons.

‘Equip the children’, an NGO, provides them spoken English classes and etiquette is taught by Anitha James or ‘kochamma’, the warden of the hostel.

After completing school, most of them go into the construction field while a few return to their roots, but definitely equipped with education, confidence and skills to earn a living even as they keep their tradition alive.

Last Updated on Monday, 16 November 2009 10:21
 
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