Bishop Mar Jacob Manathodath,  Palakkad Diocese,

Shri Justice Chettur Sankaran Nair,

Smt. Pramila Sasidharan, Palakkad Municipal Chairperson,

Shri T.G.N. Kumar, Chairman, Vennala Mahadeva Temple,

Shri V.S. Muhammed Kassim, DySP, Alathur,

Dr. K.P. Nandakumar, Amritha Homeo Clinic,

Sahodaree Sahodaranmaare,

Madhyama Suhruthukkale,

Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram,

       It gives me great joy to inaugurate the Land and Shelter programme organized by Daya Charitable Trust and Janamaithri Police of Palakkad. Let me at the outset, place on record, my appreciation for the services rendered by the Janamaithri Project and Daya Charitable Trust in society.

       I understand that the Janamaithri Project in Palakkad extends to around 18 Police stations, seeking the responsible participation of the citizens in prevention of crimes at the local level.  In addition, it also involves in the conservation of the resources, both of the community and of the police.  Kerala's overall experience shows that the active co-operation of the public has made the process of Law enforcement far more effective.

       Daya Charitable Trust has been functioning since 2006, with the noble aim of serving the marginalized and disowned sections of society.  I have been told that its activities include taking care of HIV infected widows and their children, giving financial aid to chronically ill patients, conducting free medical camps and camps for creating awareness on organ donation etc.

Today, the issue that is being addressed by Daya Charitable Trust and Janamaithri Project is one that relates to shelter, which is one of the most basic needs of any citizen. As we all know, without food, clothing and shelter, a person's existence cannot be called 'life'.  It is only when these needs are met that a person actually begins to live in a society. Incidentally, you would also be aware that the new inclusive housing scheme started by the State Government is called LIFE, which stands for Livelihood, Inclusion, Financial Empowerment. It shows clearly that housing implies much more than a mere shelter.

       A comfortable house is a great source of happiness. It ranks immediately after good health. It is widely known that housing conditions have a direct and positive impact on health status, attitudes, and values of a population. The provision of shelter to the people has to be seen as a productive activity essential for human resource development.

       According to the 2011 Census, there were 1.77 million homeless people in India and there is a shortage of 18.78 million houses in the country. Though the total number of houses has increased from 52.06 million to 78.48 million, lack of housing is still a major problem in our country. The Central Government intends to provide housing for all by the year 2022.

       When we talk of Kerala, we are proud to have initiated land reforms that enabled thousands of people to own at least portions of the land on which they worked. And we also implemented in the seventies, the One Lakh Houses programme, which is still regarded as a model by other States. However, even after 60 years of the formation of our State, 4.70 lakh families remain homeless in the state. Of them, only 2.91 lakh families have adequate land for constructing houses. The remaining 1.79 lakh families are not only homeless but also landless. 

The task before the State and our nation is very large and governmental efforts alone may not be enough to achieve these targets.  In such a situation, efforts of various voluntary agencies like Daya Charitable Trust should be encouraged so that these seemingly small steps will take us to our goal faster than we expect. I therefore, appreciate this gesture of donating three cents of land to seven deserving families.

       I have also been told that Daya Trust is currently working on a Monthly Financial Aid Scheme for children who are by birth mentally and physically challenged and for under privileged people who lost their earning power due to work related accidents. I am happy that one thousand such families have been identified from different Panchayats all over the State. In this, I would personally suggest that you include a skill training programme to empower the physically and mentally challenged children so that they would be able to support themselves through some productive work.

       We also must bear in mind that more and more disabilities are being identified among children and this has been a matter of great concern.   It is true that such issues existed in the past too, but we were not aware of them. Therefore, creation of awareness about the issues faced by children with disabilities should also become our priority. Our society needs to be trained to look at disability in children as something that can be handled through love and care. The same goes for our approach towards those affected by HIV. The need to protect their rights also should become part of our awareness schemes.  I sincerely hope that agencies like Janamaithri Project and Daya Charitable Trust would take up such awareness campaigns also while finding ways to rehabilitate and educate children with difficulties. 

I greet all the families that have received the documents for land they have been given and hope that this would be the beginning of a prosperous life.

      I compliment the organizers for conducting this function in a befitting manner and wish them all success.

Ellaavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal

Nanni

Jai Hind