The pitiable plight of the large number landless and homeless
people in India has encouraged GEMS to embark on an ambitious
project of purchasing and distributing plots of land, each
measuring 2 cents (871 sq.ft) to one thousand landless families
from different districts of Kerala, expected to cost more than
one crore rupees. This has been hailed by many as a landmark in
the history of humanitarian efforts to rehabilitate the needy
and socio - economically poor, on a large scale.
Applications were invited through notifications in leading
newspapers. More than 10,000 responses were received. A rigorous
selection process lasting for 5 months soon followed. Preference
was given to deserted/battered/ divorced women, widows, backward
castes, poor families etc. A final list of 1000 selected
applicants was published in the newspapers.
The next step was to identify land suitable for housing. As a
result, more than 10 acres of land was acquired by GEMS at
Nedumangadu (Trivandrum Dist), Mulavana (Kollam Dist), Adoor
(Pathanamthitta Dist), Nelluvai (Trichur Dist), Karipode
(Palakkad Dist), and at Kaoorachundu (Kozhikode Dist).
Suitable land was also identified in the remaining districts by
the applicants at their own discretion. Title deeds were
distributed to the first 250 beneficiaries, at an elaborate
function attended by distinguished personalities, officials and
religious leaders, in Trivandrum on 22-12-2000. Following this,
another batch of title deeds were distributed to an additional
250 beneficiaries personally. Efforts are now being made to
initiate large scale housing schemes / projects with the help of
various government/ funding agencies.
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