The Kozhikode district administration will launch on August 23 a massive drive involving around 5,000 volunteers for cleaning and repairing public places that have been damaged by flood. District Collector U.V. Jose has urged all voluntary organisations, student bodies, and the public to take part in the drive.
The administration has set up a call centre to coordinate the cleaning of houses affected by flood. Volunteers may register themselves with the facility so that manpower could be distributed evenly and for those who really need it. Electricians and plumbers will also be available through the call centre. The registration of volunteers is in progress through the WhatsApp helpline number 6282998949. The system will offer support to the local bodies that have already launched cleaning drives in their areas.
“The city region is the worst hit. So the drive on August 23 will focus on the city,” the Collector said in a meeting of volunteers on Monday to plan the rehabilitation of flood survivors. Registered service providers of the Suchitwa Mission will handle the plastic waste collected during the drive. The cleaning will be undertaken following the protocol set by the Suchitwa Mission and the Health Department.
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Education and Collegiate Education departments will be roped in to enlist the services of National Service Scheme, National Cadet Corps, Scouts and Guides, Student Police Cadets and Junior Red Cross for the cleaning drive.
“Students can spend their Onam holidays for something meaningful than the usual Pookkalam contests and feasts,” the Collector added.
Meanwhile, a team led by District Legal Services Authority Secretary M.P. Jayaraj will handle the adalat to reissue lost documents and certificates of flood survivors. Arrangements will be made to provide accommodation for people who have lost their houses in landslips and floods.
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They will be shifted to rented houses for the time being.
Medical camps will continue in select locations and a 24X7 health call centre will be set up. There are also counsellors for evacuees who need psychological support. Families returning from camps are being given a bag of relief materials that would keep them afloat for another week or two. The Collector said that such 20,000 kits are being prepared.
He said that a survey to assess the damage in houses would be held and that the flow of relief materials would be regulated based on the individual needs of each household.
“Water is being supplied to flood-hit zones the same way it is done during drought. A workshop to repair damaged electrical and electronic equipment is also under consideration,” the Collector said.
Ministers T.P. Ramakrishnan and A.K. Saseendran; M.K. Raghavan, MP; MLAs V.K.C. Mammad Koya, A. Pradeep Kumar, M.K. Muneer, E.K. Vijayan, PTA Rahim, Purushan Kadalundy and C.K. Nanu, and Mayor Thottathil Raveendran gave their inputs.