The Fisheries Department held the first round of its special regional camp for sensitising fisherfolk on various government-funded housing schemes, at Beypore on Monday. The camp was organised to prepare the final list of eligible persons and to make them aware of the formalities to be cleared for availing the benefits of the housing scheme. Officials said the fishermen families who failed to turn up for the camp after submitting the application for the housing scheme would be excluded from the final list and their chance would be extended to others. Only those who complied with Coastal Regulation Zone norms for constructing houses would be considered for the scheme, they added. Fishermen from the Chaliyam-Kappakkal coastline attended the camp on Monday. The second round will be held at Vellayil Matsyabhavan on Tuesday. Elathur, Koyilandy and Vadakara Matsya Bhavans will host separate camps for screening beneficiaries. Officials said 96 houses would be constructed in the first phase in Kozhikode district. A family will get Rs. 8 lakh under the project for purchasing land and constructing a house. So far, we have received 2,080 applications from various coastal belts, of which 96 will be considered during this fiscal. Only families who own at least 2 cents land or are ready to purchase the property for the project will be included in the final list, said a senior officer.
2017, The Hindu.