Thiruvananthapuram : The cabinet on Thursday approved guideline formulated for identifying poverty-stricken families in state. The mission, coming under Aashrya project, seeks to ensure income to impoverished residents who might have been left out of Agathirahita Kerala(Destitute Free Kerala) scheme run by local self-government bodies. The survey is scheduled to complete in 4 months time.
The decision to formulate guideline was made at the first cabinet meeting of Pinarayi Government after its retun to power in May. A chief promise in the LDF election manifesto vowed to make Kerala a poverty free state. The project will be implemented via local self bodies across the state. Rural Development Department Commissioner Santhosh Kumar has been appointed as Nodal Officer to ensure the survey is complete within the set time frame. .
Beneficiaries will be put under “extreme” and “very extreme” poverty categories. The guideline defines selection criterion, local body responsibilities, preparedness etc. Food availability, nourishment, health condition, income and dwelling will be factors to determine who the beneficiaries should be . The survey will identify destitutes suffering from extreme old age, those with physical-mental challenges, persons unable to cook their own food. those living in streets or other open spaces and those unable to get regular meals, those begging for a living, families of malnourished children, bedridden patients suffering from cancer, liver or kidney ailments, heart disease, mental disorders amd also families thrown into poverty after their bread earners have died or been debilitated in accidents.
