The Kerala State Planning Board will roll out the “Livelihood development package for Kerala” for the flood-affected in the State in December.
The livelihood rehabilitation package, being formulated by the board based on the best practices elsewhere with respect to livelihood restoration in the aftermath of the natural disaster, will mainly have six components.
The Livelihood Development Credit Plan for the six worst affected districts, preparation of special packages around Centrally-sponsored schemes, skill development, preparation of a shelf of projects to be taken up under the NREGA, Kudumbashree’s livelihood interventions and proposed interventions and development of a livelihoods portal to attract donations will be the main components of the proposed package.
While preparing the district-level plan, the board has already identified agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy development, plantation and horticulture, and small and medium enterprises as the major sectors.
Cooperative Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Commercial Banks, Kudumbashree, NABARD and SLBC have been identified as the major partners in the financial sector. The board has also worked out strategies for the banking sector and has called for integrating the Livelihood Credit Plan prepared under the leadership of District Collector with the District Credit Plan for 2018-19, 2019-2020 and 2020-21.
The two-day conference organised by the board that concluded here on Friday supported the decision to work out the roadmap and formulate the package by December. Member B. Ekbal chaired the concluding session.
Already, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has announced that it is keen to support the State in creating the livelihood and shelter for the flood-affected. A sum of ₹4,000 crore is needed for restoring the livelihood.
