ZP CEO writes to RGRHC on fund convergence for Koraga houses

Dist admin working to give title deeds to families in and around forests

Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr M R Ravi has written to the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation Limited (RGRHC) MD seeking approval for convergence of funds to facilitate construction of houses for Koragas.

The CEO said in the letter that the Koraga community – a primitive tribe in Dakshina Kannada – is economically backward. The government has implemented welfare schemes to bring 1,206 Koraga families to the mainstream of the society. Majority of the community members reside in and on the periphery of forests, and their houses are in pathetic condition.

No documents

As they do not have proper documents for the land on which they live, the district administration has initiated measures to distribute title deeds under Sections 94C and 94CC of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act. The government, through the Scheduled Tribe Welfare Department, sanctions Rs 2 lakh for the construction of houses for these primitive tribes. The amount, which is released in four instalments, is meagre for construction of houses. The cost of supply of raw materials is high for Koragas to build their houses. Many Koragas, therefore, have not shown interest in availing themselves of the benefit of the housing scheme, the CEO has said.

Further, he said that the housing scheme for the Koraga community members is being implemented through ITDP. Out of the sanctioned 571 houses, 364 houses have been completed and 207 more houses are in progress. The process of identifying the beneficiaries for the housing scheme in the district is in progress. As the title deeds are being distributed, the number of beneficiaries is likely to increase.

Funds

The department has already released Rs 5 crore for the housing scheme. At present, the RGRHC sanctions Rs 1.50 lakh for the construction of houses for the beneficiaries from SC/ST communities. If the amount under RGRHC and Scheduled Tribe Welfare Department is converged, then a sum of Rs 3.50 lakh would be available for the construction of houses for the Koraga community members. Further, under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, 90 days’ wages of Rs 21,240 can be availed for the construction of houses. If the funds under the three schemes are converged, then a sum of Rs 3,71,240 would be available for constructing a house for the Koraga beneficiary, said Dr M R Ravi.