Launch of next phase of the Indian Housing Project in Sri Lanka

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)

 The four IAs have been selected on the basis of their experience and expertise in implementing similar projects in Sri Lanka, through a competitive process following the Expression of Interest route. The signing of these agreements paves the way to commence immediate implementation of this Project on the ground.

      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.

        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

      
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).