Kottayam: For the last 41 years, 24 families of the Neezhoor grama panchayat lived in 12 houses, with two families per house that was divided into two. The houses were in Thiruvambady in the 11th ward of the panchayat.
But thanks to the initiative of the panchayat and the Kottayam district panchayat, each of the 24 families will live in single houses with modest facilities shortly.
The initiative which was funded by self-government institutions, includes two bedrooms, a hall, a sit-out and a small kitchen. Each house will cover 4 cents of land where the previous houses stood.
The previous ‘twin houses’ comprised a room where cooking and other activities were held in the corner of the room.
“We have decided to build the new houses taking into account the complaints of the people that they lacked privacy for their children and also factoring in their increasing needs”, Mary Sebastian, district panchayat vice president told DC.
The Neezhoor grama panchayat has allotted Rs 18 lakhs and the Kottayam district panchayat has allotted Rs 35 lakhs. An additional Rs 30 lakhs is needed for completing the construction of the houses.
“The constructions of the houses have begun. The residents are happy about the progress”, said Sajimol Joseph, the panchayat member of ward number 11.
She said that the locality would be renamed ‘Asha Theeram’ after the houses were ready.
