Mutt project: Govt offers Similar assistance for panchayats

[Guest guest]

Note that in this context "mutt" does not mean a mangy

mongrel dog (of which there are many prowling the

streets in India).

 

>From my main source of Keralan news,

http://www.newindpress.com

 

Keval

 

---------

 

Friday September 5 2003 12:09 IST

 

Mutt project: Govt offers Similar assistance for

panchayats

 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In order to avoid any possible

violation of the Election Commission guidelines

following the Cabinet decision to provide Government

land for the housing scheme proposed by Mata

Amrithanandamayi Mutt, the State-level Coordination

Committee on Kerala Development Plan has decided to

offer the same facility to any agency or individual

who are prepared to implement similar projects in

panchayats.

 

The committee, which met here on Thursday, entrusted

Kudumbasree director T.K.Jose with the preparation of

a detailed project report on the proposal.

 

The meeting also decided to let panchayats either

avail themselves of the facilities of the ‘free

housing scheme for the poor project’ proposed by the

Mata Amrithanandamayi Mutt or any other schemes

launched by like-minded agencies.

 

Chief Minister A.K.Antony on Thursday announced after

the Cabinet meeting that five acres of land would be

given to the Mutt to construct houses for the poor.

 

The Mutt had proposed to construct buildings worth Rs

60,000 each provided the Government handed over two

cents of land for each family.

 

However, the Government was reportedly cautioned about

announcing such a major project in a constituency

where by-election was already declared.

 

The issue had started snowballing into a controversy

with leading Opposition parties like the CPM issuing

statements against the Government decision.

 

It had accused the Government of violating the

Election Commission rules.