REPORT ON HOUSING PROJECT
A JOINT VENTURE BY THE MERCEDAIRES SISTRES OF CHARITY, ROME
&
THE HOSPITALLER ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF GOD
After the successful implementation of the “Jeeva Jyothi” housing project at Colachal, Tsunani-hit area, we have extended the housing support to the poor and needy people residing near the various Communities of the Hospitaller Order, with the financial support of the Mercedaires Sistres of Charity, Rome.
It is unfortunate that even after 60 years of independence people, especially in rural area of our country, are still living without proper shelter. They are also lacking facilities to maintain proper hygiene, educational facilities and infrastructural facilities. Lack of proper shelter leading them to regular heath problems too.
In this scenario, the Hospitaller Brothers have decided to extend their help to some of these people, with the available fund granted by the Mercedaires Sistres of Charity, Rome.
Selection Criteria
The beneficiaries were selected based on their present living conditions and financial status. Most of them were living in a Brush Shelters made of simple wooden frame, palm leaves and grass. Some of the beneficiaries were even with out land to construct a shelter. A majority of them are earning less than Rs.150/- as wages per day and an own house was really a dream for them. These beneficiaries were identified with the help of the parish priests of the respective location. Full and partial helps were also given to some of the deserving & hard working Co-workers of the Hospitaller Order.
Project Implementation
Hospitaller Order Council has decided to give the support to the poor and needy, located in various centers of the Order rather than giving support to more people in one locality alone. One brother from each Community of the following took the charge for the execution of the housing projects at the respective locations.
Location Project In-charge
Kattappana - Bro. Jose Mathew & Bro. George K.T.
Kottayam - Bro. Roy Mani
Madras - Bro. Baiju Chacko
Trichy - Bro. Antony Palamattom
Khandwa - Bro. James Edayadiyil
Before starting the work we have given the following guide line to the project in-charges of the respective communities for its implementation.
(a) Time Schedule
Identification of the beneficiaries -15 Days 01.08.07 To 15.08.07.
Finalisation /Approval/Design etc.. -15 Days 16.08.07 To 30.08.07.
Construction duration -6 Months 01.09.07 To 28.02.08.
Final settlement of Accounts -15 Days 01.03.08 To 15.03.08.
Recommended floor area. - 400sft. To 600 sft per house
Apro. cost per house - Rs.1,60,000 – Rs.3,00,000/-
(b) Accounting and Auditing
Since the FC for the above project is received in Kattappana all the payments will be made from Kattappana. All the project expenses are to be reflected in the FC utilization statement of Medical Brothers, Kattappana.
© Fund Transfer to Communities
Due to the technical issues in connection with the FC utilization, we will not be able to transfer any funds to the respective community account, to meet the housing project expenses.
(d) Payments
All the expenses in connection with the house construction will be paid from Kattappana.(FC A/C).
All the bills(Material & Labour) are to be raised in the name of “Medical Brothers, Kattappana, Kerala”.
All the above bills along with a statement are to be forwarded to Mr. Jacob, Finance Manager once in 15 days (preferably on 1st and 16th of every month) and the payment for the same will be made after scrutiny of the statement and the attached bills.
All the payments will be made by way of Demand Draft drawn in favor of the Supplier or the Contractor. The Demand Drafts will be routed through the project head of the concerned community.
Any other expenses incurred in connection with project, by the project head of the concerned community can get reimbursement from Kattappana, by producing the relevant bills of the same (Such reimbursements will be made by way of cash only).
(e) Tax Deduction at Source
Tax to be deducted from the contractor @ 2.266% of the total labour bill.
(f) Material Purchase & Construction
In case of more than one house in one community location, it is better to buy all the required materials of same kind from one supplier (e.g. Cement for the construction of all houses in that community area from one supplier in that area) rather than buying the same kind material from the different suppliers.
It is also advisable to have a construction contactor, who can take care of all the construction activities (Labour). This will help us in giving the payment to one person than taking D.D in favor of many. The contractor can effect the payment to the sub contractors like carpenter/ painter/ electrical contractor etc..
(g) Agreement with contractor
Try to make a formal agreement with the main contractor with regard to construction terms and conditions.
(h) Other Points
A quarterly status report with photographs of each house to be forwarded to the Provincial.
Address of the beneficiary / a brief note on the beneficiary/ selection criteria etc.. to be maintained.
Beneficiary wise /material wise/category wise expense records are to be maintained to identify the cost of each house and the total project.
Present Status
The works were started during September 2007 in Kattappana, Kottayam and Madras. Due to the busy schedule in the execution of other running project of the Hospitaller Order, the housing projects could not be stared as scheduled in Trichy and Khandwa. They could start the same only during march 2008.
As scheduled the houses are under construction and a number of houses were completed and the same were occupied by the beneficiaries. The location wise details of the houses are given under:
Full Help Partial Help Total
Kattappana 43 35 78
Kottayam 5 14 19
Madras 4 4
Khandaw 5 5
Trichy 10 10
Total 67 49 116
Financial Status.
We have spent an amount of Rs.59,41,675/- as on 31st March 2008 for this project. Almost 50% of the total project works are completed and rest are under progress. The unspent amounts are deposited in a Nationalized Bank under Fixed Deposit scheme. We have gained an interest of Rs.7,72,750/- from this FD and the same also will be utilized for the project purposes.
The list of beneficiaries (community wise) is given under with photo graph of the same at its progressive stage.
Kottayam – Full Help
Mr. Chakkravanni, Thanikkal house, Vellor P.O., Pareathkunne.
Kottayam - Partial Help
In addition to the above we are extending the partial help to the following poor families.
Bindhu K.M, Ayah, Kuzhinakanilathil Areeparampu P.O. |
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Bindhu Sasi, Ennasseril , Velloor P.O. |
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Indira E.N. |
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Joby John |
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Raveendran |
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arackalparambil
velloor p o
gramattom
Kodinjmattam
Gramattam
Velloor p o
palathinkathoppil
velloor p o
pampady
Kattappana
Due to the peculiar geographical conditions and economic issues, the Council has allotted more fund to Kattappana, High Ranges of Kerala.
Bro. JoseMathew, Bro. George K.T, Bro. Pius Manithattiyil and
Br. Thomas Kanjiramootil took initiative in the project exaction in these area.
The list of beneficiaries with the house photographs are given under.
1. Mr. Baby, Kannam Kulathu, Narakakanam
2. Mr.Josekutty, Kumplaniyil, 8th Mile.
3. Mr. Rarichen, Vellayamkudy
4.Mr. Joseph, Kottarathil, Kalvari Mount
5. Mr. Joy, Kozhymala
6. Mr. Siby, Churakattu, Mariapuram.
7. Mrs. Elsy George, Podimattathil, Parakadav
8 Mr. George Joseph, Kuttipalackal, Vellayamkudy
9. Mr. Shaji, Kurumullumthadathil, 8th Mile.
10. Baby, Kunnumpurathu
11. Mrs. Mary, Pazhayampally, Vellayamkudy
12. Mrs. Rosamma Philip, Arimattathil
13. Mr.Kochettan, Paramthodu, 20 Acare.
14. Deepu Abraham, Pannikuzhyil, Chemblem.
Photographs of the houses which are under construction will be forwarded shortly.
We take this opportunity to thank the Mercedaires Sistres of Charity for their financial and other support to the poorest of the poor living in our country.
With Warm Regards
Jacob Kora