Chennai, Feb 19:
To create a ‘Hut-Free Tamil Nadu’ by-2030, eight lakh concrete houses will be-constructed in rural areas. In the first phase, one-lakh new houses will be built at a unit cost of-Rs.3.50 lakh per house in the coming year.
Even in the twenty-first century, huts persist-in rural areas as an enduring symbol of poverty.-In the Indian society plagued with disparity, this-transition to safe and permanent houses accords an-opportunity to people to live with dignity. Fully aware of-this reality, Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar introduced-a pioneering initiative in 1975 marking the first-instance in the country where permanent houses-were constructed for hut-dwellers in rural areas.-Subsequently, the ‘Kalaignar Veedu Vazhangum Thittam’-was launched in 2010 for achieving the goal of a hut-free-Tamil Nadu.
In the recent survey conducted by this-Government for replacing huts with safe and permanent-concrete houses in rural areas of Tamil Nadu, it has been-found that approximately eight lakh huts continue to-exist. Hence, to create a ‘Hut-Free Tamil Nadu’ by-2030, eight lakh concrete houses will be-constructed in rural areas. In the first phase, one-lakh new houses will be built at a unit cost of-Rs.3.50 lakh per house in the coming year.
The selected beneficiaries will be provided-with house sites in case they are landless and will be-provided with funds for constructing the house directly-into their bank accounts. With a scientific survey and-transparent selection process, a new scheme,-‘Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam’, will be implemented in-the coming year at a cost of Rs.3,500 crore,-providing an opportunity for the poor to build their dream-homes.
2,000 km road
Under the „Mudhalvarin Grama Salaigal-Membattu Thittam‟ launched by the Government to-expand the network of quality roads to remote villages,-road development works covering 2,000 km will be taken-up at a cost of Rs.1,000 crore in the coming year.
With the noble intention of providing basic-amenities to all hamlets of Tamil Nadu, thus making them-self-sufficient, works are being taken up under the-„Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam–II‟-implemented in 2,482 Village Panchayats at an estimated-cost of Rs.1,147 crore in the coming year.
The Dravidian-Model Government, led by the Hon‟ble Chief Minister,-which is marching ahead on the path laid out by-Thanthai Periyar, has provided 46 lakh drinking water-connections to rural households in the last three years.-Further, in the coming year, 2,000 new overhead-tanks will be constructed in rural local bodies, at a-cost of Rs.365 crore, replacing the old structures.
Various development-works including upgradation of roads will be-carried out in these areas, at an estimated cost of-Rs.300 crore, in the coming year.
Aimed at restoring-5,000 water bodies, will be implemented through-community participation under the guidance of-leading scientific institutions, at an estimated-cost of Rs.500 crore.
