KOCHI: Kizhakkambalam panchayat has figured prominently in political discussions after the recently-concluded civic polls in the state. This industrial area in Ernakulam district has scripted history by becoming the first panchayat in the entire country to be ruled by the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of a corporate, Anna-Kitex Group.
Even though the target of Twenty20 is to transform Kizhakkambalam into the best panchayat in the country by the year 2020, the new panchayat committee headed by K V Jacob is hopeful of achieving the dream by 2018 as he says the job is already half done. You may have to believe him as Twenty20 has, till now, spent Rs 36 crore in the past two-and-a-half years towards this end.
The ‘new generation’ promise in the manifesto to give free Wi-Fi to all households is to be a reality by February 28 next year. Eight new towers are being installed in the panchayat to achieve this.
The top promises of Twenty20 include a panacea for the drinking water crisis in the area; making the panchayat liquor-free; construction of houses for the poor; electricity connection and toilet facility for all; making essential commodities available to the public at ‘half-price’ and distribution of nutritious food to children and pregnant women.
“Twenty20 has given a great hope to the people in Kizhakkambalam and we are committed to live up to it. Priority will be given to drinking water and housing. With the commissioning of new drinking water projects in the panchayat and adjacent areas the issue will be resolved forever. The government is providing Rs 2 lakh to construct new houses. This amount is insufficient. We plan to hand over keys of houses with an area of 650 sq ft at an expense of Rs 7 lakh. There are 130 ‘Lakshamveedu’ houses in the panchayat. We have plans to make these houses, only separated by a single wall, separate houses. Hence, the plan is to construct 260 independent houses spending Rs 350 crore. We will approach the government and other private companies to find funds for the project,” K V Jacob told ‘Express.’
He added that Kizhakkambalam will be the best panchayat in the country by 2018, two years ahead of the target.
Twenty20 won 17 seats in the 19-member Kizhakkambalam panchayat, and two seats in the Vazhakkulam block panchayat. Jincy Aji (Kizhakkambalam ward) is the vice-president. M V George (Pazhanganadu) is the Development Standing Committee chairman and Lalu Varghese (Vilangu) is the Welfare Standing Committee chairperson. Njaralloor ward member Valsa Teacher is the Health and Education Standing Committee chairperson.
Another mega project in offing in Kizhakkambalam is that of an international school that gives free education to students from Kizhakkambalam till Plus-Two. Twenty20 has already purchased 12 acres of land for the school at Malayidamthuruthu. The panchayat is also planning to start a Panchayat President Relief Fund of Rs 1 crore to provide free medical aid to patients in the panchayat.