Consulate General of India
Jaffna
Press Release
Mr. V. Mahalingam, Consul General of India, Jaffna and High Commissioner designate to Cooperative Republic of Guyana, addressed both the print and the visual media based in Northern Province at the Consulate premises on 19 May 2014.
Consul General, in his introductory remarks to the media briefly summarized the activities of the Consulate during the three years and six months of his stay here in Jaffna as the Consul General of India. He informed the media that this would be his last press briefing in Jaffna before his departure from here on 22 May, 2014.
Consul General during his interaction, mentioned that the flagship programme of the Government of India under the Development Partnership initiative viz., the Indian Housing Project (IHP) for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is proceeding well as planned. He mentioned that out of the 43,000 houses earmarked for North and Eastern Province to be completed by 2015, in Northern Province, 26,931 beneficiaries have been selected for allotment of houses under the Indian Housing Project. Of this, 12,277 houses have been completed and handed over to the beneficiaries under the Second Phase of Indian Housing Project which includes 1000 houses under the Pilot Project as on 1st May 2014. 14654 houses under various stages of construction will be handed over to the beneficiaries in the coming months.
Consul General recalled certain reports in the media on the indebtedness of beneficiaries who have been allotted houses under the Second Phase of Indian Housing Project. Clarifying on this issue, he mentioned that under the Indian Housing Project (IHP) SLRs.5,50,000 is transferred directly to the beneficiary to construct a 550 sq.ft house which provides all basic necessities. However, the Consulate has noted that, of the 25,931 houses (excluding 1000 houses under the Pilot project) nearly 13,785 houses i.e., 51 per cent have been constructed by the beneficiaries with more than 550 sq.ft. plinth area. Moreover, the beneficiaries have on their own, tiled the house, provided stainless steel kitchen sink and installed carved and fancy wooden doors. Consul General mentioned that in Vattekachchi area in Killinochchi district, model houses have been constructed by the Implementing Agency adopting cost effective measures and they have been able to deliver houses of 550 sq.ft within the allocated money of SLRs.5,50,000. Accordingly it would not be appropriate to conclude that the beneficiaries of IH Project are getting indebted due to IHP.
Consul General concluded his media briefing thanking them for the excellent cooperation extended by the media to the activities of the Consulate.
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May 20, 2014
Address: 14 Maruthady Lane, Nallur, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Tel No.94- 21-2220504/05/ Fax No. 94-21-2220503
Email : hoc.jaffna@mea.gov.in
