India spends Rs 100 cr on Lanka housing project

[carnish]

India has processed more than 15,500 transactions and disbursed Rs 100 crore in the last six months to beneficiaries in Sri Lanka under the second phase of a housing project there with the help of five Indian banks. New Delhi, which launched the direct cash transfer on 2 October last year, has planned to spend Rs 1,000 crore for construction of 43,000 house units in the second phase of the housing project. During 2013-14, an amount of Rs 375 crore is expected to be incurred towards the implementation of this project meant for displaced Tamils. Out of 43,000 units, 39,000 houses are in Northern Province and 4,000 in Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Giving details of the “owner-driven” model adopted by India for the second phase, officials said government transfers a cash grant of SLR 5.50 lakh (Sri Lankan Rupees) directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries in four instalments for construction of new houses and a cash grant of upto SLR 2,50,000 in three instalments for repairs of existing houses. The work is directly executed by the beneficiaries themselves. A dedicated Development Cooperation Wing has been set up in the Indian High Commission in Colombo, with a number of additional staff deployed to facilitate the implementation of the growing projects portfolio, they said. “We have utilised SLR 2.28 billion (INR 100 crore) for the housing project since the launch of its second phase six months ago and as on March 30 this year, the Indian mission in Colombo has processed 15,586 transactions (1st instalment- 11,379, 2nd instalment-3,448, 3rd instalment741 and 4th instalment-18 beneficiary files),” officials said. The funds for the project are transferred through five Indian banks operating in Colombo — State Bank of India, Axis Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and ICICI Bank. Each bank has been allocated a specific area of jurisdiction for transferring funds to beneficiaries falling within their jurisdiction. Beneficiaries have the freedom to open a savings bank account with a bank of their choice. Funds are transferred through the Sri Lanka Inter Bank Payment System (SLIPS) to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries within one working day. Four implementing agencies (IAs) — UN-Habitat (UN-Agency), International Federation of Red Cross (I-NGO), Habitat for Humanity (I-NGO) and National Housing Development Authority (agency of GoSL) — have been appointed by the Government of India facilitate the construction of the houses. The IAs in consultation with the district officials select the beneficiaries as per an agreed scoring criteria agreed by both governments. The agencies facilitate the transfer of funds to the beneficiaries by the Mission in different stages depending on the physical progress of the work. These agencies also provide training to the beneficiaries, offer the required assistance for selecting design of the houses, mobilising construction material and labour and provide technical assistance and training to the beneficiaries to complete their houses. Based on files prepared for each beneficiary by the IAs, incorporating the details of the family, bank accounts, land deeds, identity particulars, agreements, photographic proof showing the stage of construction (with the beneficiaries), fund request, the Mission processes the files for payment and funds are transferred directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries and intimated to them. India has already completed the Pilot Project involving construction of 1,000 houses in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka under agency-driven model in 2012. The houses have been handed over to the beneficiaries. The Project is under defect liability period till July 31 this year. Action is being taken to rectify the defects noticed in the construction during this period, officials said. For the third phase of the project involving construction of 4,000 houses for families of estate workers of Central/Uva province, who are predominantly of ‘Indian Origin Tamils’, the Project Management Consultant has been finalised while WAPCOS will execute the contract. During 2013-14, an amount of Rs 25 crore is expected to be incurred towards the implementation of this project. The total cost of this multi-year project is Rs 212 crore. And for the fourth phase, to be implemented during 2014-15 for the most vulnerable and landless IDP families of Northern and Eastern Province, the total cost is estimated at Rs 107 crore.

http://www.firstpost.com/fwire/india-spends-rs-100-cr-on-lanka-housing-project-689307.html?utm_source=fwire&utm_medium=hp 300 Million homeless people in India and our government is giving money for people in Lanka to build homes .. :facepalm:

[jiggo]

100 cr is tiny compared to what China is putting into SL. This is money is likely to go into pockets of key SL politicians (disguised as builders) to garner diplomatic favour. They will probably want more as China is ploughing billions of dollars into SL.

[carnish]

100 cr is tiny compared to what China is putting into SL. This is money is likely to go into pockets of key SL politicians (disguised as builders) to garner diplomatic favour. They will probably want more as China is ploughing billions of dollars into SL.

Look at the infrastructure in China ... compare that with what we have here.

[jiggo]

Look at the infrastructure in China ... compare that with what we have here.

True, but I really don't think 100 cr will make any difference to India's housing issues. Major structural changes are needed from central and state governments. One simple example is India's lack of capability (and capacity) to build high rise buildings taller than 5 storeys! Whilst in China, there are skyscrapers (100m plus) even in small towns too. To build things, India needs thousands of competent (proper: mech, civil, elec, chemical) engineers and world class engineering companies, which unfortunately is not happening due to poor education system, red tape, corruption etc.

[Crookbond]

The main of this article was just to report the progress of the MoU between the Indian and Sri Lanka government over a housing project which was initiated more than a year before today. Article on January 17, 2012 states [0]

The internally displaced Tamils in the north will soon be partners in building their own homes. They will build a majority of the 49,000 houses over the next few years after India and Sri Lanka on Tuesday signed a few documents to this effect. The Memorandum of Understanding specifies the modalities for the next phase of the Housing Project being implemented with India’s assistance of about $260 million. External Affairs Minister of India and Sri Lanka, S.M. Krishna and G.L. Peiris, singed the MoU involving the construction of 49,000 houses. This includes reconstruction of 38,000 houses, repairs of 5,000 houses under the owner-driven model for IDPs, and construction of 6,000 houses by agencies for vulnerable sections of IDPs who are unable to build their own houses. A pilot project for construction of first 1,000 houses is already in an advanced stage of completion. Mr.Krishna will handover to the beneficiaries some of these houses on Wednesday. He had laid the foundation for the housing project in November 2010.

The argument that government should spend on Indian citizens is pretty valid but unless it is shown that the required amount (scientific projection not numbers made up in thin air) is not spend for housing it doesn't hold water. In most cases, it is not the expenditure (allocation of resources) which is the actual problem but the execution of solution which is the issue. It's not just housing but railways (US dollars 382.37 Million) which India his helping a certain section (Tamils) in Sri Lanka to gain basic access to human facilities in the war torn country. I don't see anything wrong with it - India too is the beneficiary of many such projects from developed nations and this is our way of showing magnanimity to our neighbors. This helps India for bargaining positions on conflicting opinions in the SAARC. It also helps our standing in the UN - our power has only increased in the last few years. The UN is actively involved in this project. Apart from Sri Lanka, there are so many other MoU's with other countries which are not talked about. Here is a list of such MoU's signed during various visits in the period December 15, 2011 to March 15, 2012 which include but not limited to 100 Million Credit for Power Line Transmission to Mali and myriad other things ![1] [0] http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-sri-lanka-ink-mou-for-next-phase-of-housing-project/article2808296.ece [1] http://164.100.47.132/Annexture/lsq15/10/au1317.htm

[FischerTal]

tn fishermen today captured by lankan navy.

[carnish]

The main of this article was just to report the progress of the MoU between the Indian and Sri Lanka government over a housing project which was initiated more than a year before today. Article on January 17' date=' 2012 states [0'] The argument that government should spend on Indian citizens is pretty valid but unless it is shown that the required amount (scientific projection not numbers made up in thin air) is not spend for housing it doesn't hold water. In most cases, it is not the expenditure (allocation of resources) which is the actual problem but the execution of solution which is the issue. It's not just housing but railways (US dollars 382.37 Million) which India his helping a certain section (Tamils) in Sri Lanka to gain basic access to human facilities in the war torn country. I don't see anything wrong with it - India too is the beneficiary of many such projects from developed nations and this is our way of showing magnanimity to our neighbors. This helps India for bargaining positions on conflicting opinions in the SAARC. It also helps our standing in the UN - our power has only increased in the last few years. The UN is actively involved in this project. Apart from Sri Lanka, there are so many other MoU's with other countries which are not talked about. Here is a list of such MoU's signed during various visits in the period December 15, 2011 to March 15, 2012 which include but not limited to 100 Million Credit for Power Line Transmission to Mali and myriad other things ![1] [0] http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-sri-lanka-ink-mou-for-next-phase-of-housing-project/article2808296.ece [1] http://164.100.47.132/Annexture/lsq15/10/au1317.htm

Dexter, I am not saying we shouldn't extend such benefits to our neighbours or other poor nations but we should at the same time have our homes properly set first. When 300 million people are homeless in India which by the way is 15 times more than the Population of Sri Lanka, it doesn't make sense. I understand we receive such deals from other nations but as you yourself said, its developed nations that extend help to us. We are by no means developed and are not going to be a developed nation in the next 50 years and hence such projects isn't a good idea. Just because our politicians want a large say in Global politics, we should not allow people to live on the streets.

[Crookbond]

Dexter' date=' I am not saying we shouldn't extend such benefits to our neighbours or other poor nations but we should at the same time have our homes properly set first. When 300 million people are homeless in India which by the way is 15 times more than the Population of Sri Lanka, it doesn't make sense. I understand we receive such deals from other nations but as you yourself said, its developed nations that extend help to us. We are by no means developed and are not going to be a developed nation in the next 50 years and hence such projects isn't a good idea. Just because our politicians want a large say in Global politics, we should not allow people to live on the streets.[/quote'] Unfortunately it doesn't work that way - both are important : [0] A economic stable and safe neighborhood and [1] socially developed country. You can't say I will first do [1] and then go for [0]. Not doing [0] impedes [1] and vice-versa - it is no just about global politics but also local neighborhood prosperity. You should understand that both the long term and short term views are important. You can't turn in a developed country on self-sustenance, no one ever has. In addition, it is not just the "developed" nations who give such deals to us mind you. You are pointing out the problem of human development within a country which is not just function of the economic resources allocated but a larger economic, cultural and executive chain. In case you are saying that adequate economic resources are not allocated for the 300 million homeless people in India, you need to provide numbers and argue why it is not sufficient.