India to begin second phase of building houses for IDPs

The Union Cabinet of the Government of India yesterday approved the central government’s proposal to reconstruct and repair 49,000 houses for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Northern and Eastern Provinces and for Indian Origin Tamils (IOTs) in Sri Lanka under grant assistance from the Government of India.

Indian High Commission in Colombo said in a statement that the project will be under full grant assistance of the Government of India with a total outlay of Rs. 29.4 billion (approximately US $ 260 million or INR 13.19 billion).

The Project will primarily be implemented under the owner-driven model where the beneficiaries will undertake the reconstruction of their houses with necessary technical assistance and support provided to them.

The High Commission of India will directly release funds into their bank accounts based on certification of progress of work.

It may be mentioned that preferences of beneficiaries on the ground as well as the project objectives of contributing to livelihood activities requires following an owner-driven approach where the beneficiary is closely involved with and participants in the process of construction.

While bulk of the housing units will be implemented under this model, houses for people from vulnerable sections, who are unable to build their own houses, like households headed by single women, disabled, elderly people etc., will be built by construction agencies. (Colombo Page)