Though a return to normal life is still a dream for most of them, 740 rain-hit people temporarily occupying the Kerala government’s Apna Ghar lodging facility at Kanjikode, near here, are finding it a soothing experience.
Rendered homeless by unremitting rains and confined hitherto to the depressing interiors of flood relief camps in various parts of Palakkad town and its suburbs for the last several days, they were relocated on Independence Day to this facility originally built for migrant workers in the Kanjikode-Pudussery industrial belt.
“It may perhaps be the largest relief camp Kerala has ever seen. However, the facilities here are making it a matchless one even at the national level. Though the rain victims continue to remain gloomy and dismal because of the uncertainties shrouding their future, the camp, which has better standards, would definitely inspire them to think about rebuilding their lives in whatever possible ways,” said M.B. Rajesh MP.
Mr. Rajesh was present there along with Minister A.K. Balan and MLA Shafi Parambil on Wednesday when district authorities took all the rain-hit people in a dozen buses to the camp.
The facility, with 64 big rooms, provides hygienic accommodation to all the victims.
While the Kudumbasree Mission has taken up the task of preparing quality food for the victims, the KSRTC has expressed its readiness to carry their children to schools in the town.
“My 12-year-old mentally challenged son was extremely disturbed after landing in a relief camp at Olavakode because of the very limited facilities there. Here, he is happy,” said homemaker Rama (not her real name).
Physically challenged
As a few among them are physically challenged, the authorities have allocated them an exclusive block on the ground floor.
“To ease congestion in rooms, we have approached the Kerala State Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) to temporarily arrange a three-storey building of a defunct factory in its adjoining industrial park. The building would be made available on Friday and about 150 people would be sheltered there,” said deputy collector P. Syedalavi. “The occupants can vacate this facility when situation improves,” he adds.
Ready for inauguration for over two months, Apna Ghar was visualised as a state-of-the-art lodging facility for migrant workers, a first of its kind initiative in the country.
The State government has already made it clear that the facility, spread over 44,000 sq ft, would be utilised for migrant workers after addressing the unexpected rain distress situation.
In each of the four accommodation blocks, the facility has separate community kitchens for vegetarians and non-vegetarians, a dining room, a washing line with bathrooms, toilets, wash basins, and apparel washing-drying area.
Piped drinking and bath water are available and a small playground is an added attraction.