Kerala government’s second instalment of the poverty alleviation programme will kick off this month. Microplans for each of the 64,006 families is being worked out. These families have been identified as extremely poor in a statewide survey. “On the human development front, Kerala takes another lead. The government is formulating a microplan for 64006 families to end the extreme poverty in the state. A comprehensive survey has been conducted under the leadership of local self-government institutions. #keralaleads,” tweeted M.V. Govindan Master, Minister for Local Self Governments and Excise, Kerala.
As part of the initiative, local bodies have been advised to coordinate with corporate institutions, NRI organisations, cooperative banks, trade organisations, voluntary organisations and service-minded people to generate funds for the poverty alleviation programme. Moreover, a separate account will be created in the name of the nodal officer for collecting those funds. Preparations for microplans for each family should be completed before August 31. For that, immediate care, short-term plans and long-term plans should be prepared.
Under the immediate care plan comes providing food for those who have no permanent residence and help through Anganwadis. As many as 43,850 families are single-member families. The section also consists of equipping the families with necessary documents such as ration cards, voters’ cards, Aadhar cards, MGNREGS cards, certificates for the differently-abled, social security pensions, bank accounts and identity cards for transgender persons. For those who need palliative support, medicines, and bystanders will also be arranged.
Nutritious food catering to specific needs will be given to the needy under the short-term plans. Rehabilitating people who live on the streets, providing food kits, connecting the needy to various government health schemes, giving equipment to ensure mobility, and shifting mentally-challenged person to various facilities also come under this.
Under the long-term plans come houses under the LIFE project, arrangements for education, skill training based on aptitude, and special skill training for the differently-abled.
The Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) will handle the training programmes for the preparation of the microplans. The Kudumbasree units in each area will support the implementation process. Once the plans are implemented, after each year, the situation of the families will be assessed. Based on the results, the plans will get revised.