Alappuzha: Kerala finance minister TM Thomas Isaac in a Facebook post has given a call to clean the Kuttanad area within three days for sceptics like TV anchor Arnab Goswami to recognize Kerala's potential.
The state witnessed severe flooding. The dedication and the strength of the fisher-folk in the state were in full display during the rescue missions, the capabilities of the farm workers would be proved when the cleaning drive is completed, Isaac said in the post. “The farmers will make the Kuttanad area a habitable place in two to three days,” he said.
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Excerpts from Thomas Isaac’s post:
Excerpts from Thomas Isaac’s post:
Preparations are in full swing to implement Operation Rehabilitation in Alappuzha. Panchayat-level flood relief committees will meet on Monday. The plan is to rope in at least 60,000 local people for the cleaning drive in Kuttanand.
CPM and allied organizations will ensure that people belonging to other parts of Alappuzha district also join the initiative. We hope that other parties too will take up similar programmes.
While the farm workers, local party activists etc. are familiar with the place, I am worried about volunteers from outside the district who need to be given proper guidance. Already, the volunteer registration has touched 2000. Many of them are arriving in groups even though only one among them may register.
The Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram is coming with a group of 400 volunteers. Employees of Coirfed are arriving as a 150-member team. Several other institutions and organizations have promised support.
However, only limited facilities can be arranged for those reaching here on the night of August 27. This is because relief camps are functioning at most schools and colleges. Still, dormitory arrangements will be provided.
Volunteers should ensure that they bring drinking water for themselves and take medicines for preventing rat fever. We can supply gloves, but the volunteers should arrange the footwear. Tools are available here; however, if somebody can bring high pressure pumps operating on diesel, it would be most helpful.
Volunteers from other district should reach the collectorate, from where they will be directed to the area where work needs to be carried out. A call centre has started functioning for this purpose. The contact numbers are, 8129410413 (Muhassin), 9544229757 (Sandeep), 9533737172 (Amal) and 8089317761 (Jobin).
Details will also be available from the following numbers at the collectorate from 9 am on Monday: 0477 2230096, 0477 2230160, 0477 2236831.
