Kochi: “If mother were alive today, she would be beyond happy. She used to speak about comrade all the time, right to her very last. We are indebted to the comrade who climbed us ashore from leaky shanty to this secure home.” These words come from Maryimma’s daughter Smita, when LDF’s Kalamassery candidate P Rajeev visited their Thamaraparambu house during the 2nd phase of election campaign in ward-3 of Kandangallur panchayat.
P Rajeev responded to the gesture saying, “ “Kaniv(kindness0” scheme was possible in Ernakulam owing to backing from philanthropists that went beyond party politics. Rajeev spend half-hour speaking to members of the family before resuming the area tour.
The dream of a strong and secure home became reality for Mariamma Francis and her four daughters from Kadepally Laksham Colony under the “Kaniv Project” started by P Rajeev who was the CPI(M) District Secretary at the time. The house construction took off in August of 2018 and was complete in February 2019. Mariamma’s home was the 60th built by CPI(M) in the area.
Presently, Mariamma’s oldest daughter Smita and her younger sibling Savita live with their families at this house. Kaniv project was started in 2015 to rehabilitate those with debilities, terminal illnesses and orphaned persons. The project lend a new face to relief programs in the region.
P Rajeev took lead in setting up the Kaniv project - an endeavour that constructed homes for more than 100 families in the district.
