CHAVAKKAD:
The inmates of fisheries colony near Blangad beach in Chavakkad may be the best beneficiaries of the adage “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” as the dish they served to the Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is all set to settle their complaints. Within minutes after having the ‘Kappa-Meen’ combo from the house of Kizhakkoott Karunakaran and wife Thankamani, and an interaction with the dwellers, Rahul made the Chief Minister and his team to announce a package for the colony with nearly 50 families consisting of about 250 people.
“I will return to this place soon as they have served me a tasty fish meal today,” Rahul started his address reminding of the hospitality he received a few minutes ago. This prompted Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to announce a package for the colony.
“After listening to their grievances, he had a meaningful look at me and my colleagues. So we had a discussion and arrived at a package for them,” he added after Rahul’s speech.
The package includes constructing houses for the homeless. There will be twin houses with proper privacy to each family.
A sum of Rs 50,000 will be granted for the maintenance of the existing houses. The Chief Minister has asked T N Prathapan MLA who was in the team to collect the applications of those who need medical assistance.
They will be given assistance in an urgent manner from Chief Minister’s relief fund. Three cents of land will be allotted to the Anganwadi at the colony as it doesn’t have a building of its own. The package also includes plans to address the lack of proper public toilet facilities at the colony lying close to the beach.
Rahul paid a visit to half of the houses, along with top leaders KPCC president V M Sudheeran, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and Fisheries Minister K Babu along with the Chief Minister and Prathapan.
He spent more than half an hour listening to their woes.