bilateral beat - High Commission of India, Colombo

BILATERAL BEATLaunch of next phase of the Indian Housing ProjectThe High Commission of India signed agreements on 13 July 2012 to award work to fourImplementing Agencies (IAs), viz., UN-HABITAT, International Federation of Red Cross & Red CrescentSocieties (IFRC) in partnership with Sri Lanka Red Cross, National Housing Development Agency (NHDA) ofthe Government of Sri Lanka and Habitat for Humanity, Sri Lanka signaling the launch of the next phase ofthe Indian Housing Project for 43,000 housing units in Northern and Eastern Provinces.The signing ceremony was witnessed by Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Developmentand H.E. Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India.The four IAs have been selected on the basis of their experience and expertise in implementingsimilar projects in Sri Lanka, through a competitive process following the Expression of Interest route. Thesigning of these agreements paves the way to commence immediate implementation of this Project on theground.In this phase, which will be implemented under the owner-driven model, beneficiaries will beselected through a transparent and norm-based process on the basis of clearly defined and objective criteria.These beneficiaries will undertake the construction/repair of their houses with necessary technical assistanceand support provided by the IAs. Funds will be released directly by the High Commission of India into bankaccounts of beneficiaries based on certification of progress of work. An owner-driven approach has beenfollowed on the basis of preferences of the Government of Sri Lanka, people on the ground as well as projectobjectives of contributing to livelihood activities.This phase is expected to meet bulk of the housing needs in these areas. In the last phase of theproject, which is also expected to commence soon, about 6,000 houses will be directly built by constructionagencies for people from most vulnerable sections of IDPs in the Northern and Eastern provinces and forestate sector in the Central and Uva Provinces.The construction of 43,000 houses for resettlement and rehabilitation of IDPs in Northern andEastern Provinces is part of the overall commitment to build 50,000 houses announced by Prime MinisterH.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh during the State visit of the President of Sri Lanka to India H.E. MahindaRajapaksa in June 2010. This commitment also formed part of the Joint Declaration issued in New Delhiduring the visit.The Indian Housing Project is being carried out in close consultation with and cooperation of theGovernment of Sri Lanka. A Memorandum of Understanding was earlier signed on 18 January 2012 betweenthe two governments covering various aspects of project implementation. The entire Project is under full grantassistance of the Government of India with a total outlay of SLR 30.6 billion (approx. US $ 270 million).Previous Page Back to Cover Page Next Page