THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There needs to be a change in the mindset that benefits of government-funded welfare schemes can be derived by beneficiaries in a perpetual manner, Local Self-Government Minister K T Jaleel said here on Thursday. The minister was launching a state-level survey ahead of the implementation of the ‘Destitute-Free Kerala’ project by the Kudumbashree.
“Once a family is identified as destitute, it does not mean that they should continue in the same manner throughout their lifetime. No government comes out with welfare projects with the aim of sustaining it forever,” Jaleel said.The minister said that as part of the project, destitute families will be identified and provided food, shelter, medicine and educational assistance. The ‘Destitute-Free Kerala’ project has been devised to take care of the entire needs of the destitute families, he said.
The minister said those who have improved their living standards through the ‘Ashraya’ project launched in 2003, will be excluded from the list of beneficiaries of ‘Destitute Free Kerala.’ He urged the Kudumbashree workers to exercise caution so that no eligible family is left out of the survey.
Mobile app launched
Jaleel launched a mobile app that has been designed for carrying out the survey. Mayor V K Prasanth released a handbook for Kudumbashree workers who would undertake the survey.
The course of action
The survey by Kudumbashree is expected to be completed in two months. The list of beneficiaries will be ratified by the panchayat committee concerned. After preparation of the rehabilitation project, the panchayats will submit it before Kudumbashree for approval. While the state government will fund 40 % of the project cost through Kudumbashree, the remaining 60 per cent of the funds will be mobilised by three-tier panchayats.