The High Commission
of India signed agreements today to award work to four Implementing Agencies
(IAs), viz., UN-HABITAT, International Federation of Red Cross & Red
Crescent Societies (IFRC) in partnership with Sri Lanka Red Cross, National
Housing Development Agency (NHDA) of the Government of Sri Lanka and Habitat for
Humanity, Sri Lanka signaling the launch of the next phase of the Indian Housing
Project for 43,000 housing units in Northern and Eastern Provinces. The signing
ceremony was witnessed by Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development
and H.E. Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India.
Anurag Srivastava (r) and Bob McKerrow IFRC (l) signing the Indian Housing Project agreement with Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development and H.E. Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India and Shri P. Kumaran Deputy High Commissioner, witnessing the signing.(photo courtesy Min. of Economic Development)
In
this phase, which will be implemented under the owner-driven model,
beneficiaries will be selected through a transparent and norm-based process on
the basis of clearly defined and objective criteria. These beneficiaries will
undertake the construction/repair of their houses with necessary technical
assistance and support provided by the IAs. Funds will be released directly by
the High Commission of India into bank accounts of beneficiaries based on
certification of progress of work. An
owner-driven approach has been followed on the basis of preferences
of the Government of Sri Lanka, people on the ground as well as project
objectives of contributing to livelihood activities.
This phase is expected to meet bulk of
the housing needs in these areas. In the last phase of the project, which is
also expected to commence soon, about 6,000 houses will be
directly built by construction agencies for people
from most vulnerable sections
of IDPs
in the Northern and Eastern provinces and for estate sector in the Central and
Uva Provinces.
This has been a team effort with everyone with experience and expertise contributing to the best methodology for building 43,000 quality owner-driven houses with the generous funding from the Indian Government. Anurag Srivastava from the Indian High Commission centre, Keti Khurtsia (r) from IFRC, and David Evans (l) UN Habitat at the signing ceremony tonight.
This has been a team effort with everyone with experience and expertise contributing to the best methodology for building 43,000 quality owner-driven houses with the generous funding from the Indian Government. Anurag Srivastava from the Indian High Commission centre, Keti Khurtsia (r) from IFRC, and David Evans (l) UN Habitat at the signing ceremony tonight.
The construction of 43,000 houses for resettlement and rehabilitation of
IDPs in Northern and Eastern Provinces is part of the overall commitment to
build 50,000 houses announced by Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh during
the State visit of the President of Sri Lanka to India H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa in
June 2010. This commitment also formed part of the Joint Declaration issued in
New Delhi during the visit.
In order to ensure early operationalisation of this commitment, a pilot
phase for the construction of 1,000 houses in the five districts of Northern
Province was launched in
November 2010. 950 houses have already been completed under the pilot phase,
most of which have been handed over to beneficiaries. The remaining houses will
be completed by the end of this month.
This is the type of owner driven house that will be built under the Indian Housing project (IHP). 43,000 will be built in total under IHP. This house is one of 3000 constructed by the Sri Lanka Red Cross under its current programme, who will be the IFRC partner in the IHP. Photo: Bob McKerrow
This is the type of owner driven house that will be built under the Indian Housing project (IHP). 43,000 will be built in total under IHP. This house is one of 3000 constructed by the Sri Lanka Red Cross under its current programme, who will be the IFRC partner in the IHP. Photo: Bob McKerrow
The Indian Housing Project is being carried out in close consultation with and cooperation of the Government of Sri Lanka. A Memorandum of Understanding was earlier signed on 18 January 2012 between the two governments covering various aspects of project implementation. The entire Project is under full grant assistance of the Government of India with a total outlay of SLR 30.6 billion (approx. US $ 270 million).
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