As Prime Minister Narendra Modi was inaugurating the world’s tallest statue—Statue of Unity—in Gujarat, Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was also held an inauguration ceremony, to hand over the keys of 192 flats.
Built for families of fishermen whose homes were destroyed due to sea erosion in the coastal region of Thiruvananthapuram, the ‘Prathiksha’ (Hope) housing complex consists of 24 units spread over 3.5 acres of plot and was completed in record time of 18 months. The complex also has amenities like a library, community hall and sanitation facilities, constructed at a cost of Rs 2.5 Crore. It was constructed under Mission LIFE (Livelihood Inclusion and Financial Empowerment) which is a comprehensive housing scheme for the landless and homeless people in the state.
The project honours the fishermen community of Kerala who were instrumental in saving lakhs of lives during the Kerala floods this year. The fishermen reached out to the worst-affected areas, spending their own money to transport their mechanised boats and fuel in trucks. Venturing into the remote corners with their vessels, they played a decisive role in rescuing people from critical areas and provided relief materials, essential food items and drinking water to rescue camps.
