Date:04/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/04/stories/2007040424360400.htm

Kerala

Government to institute award in Baker's name

Special Correspondent

Kerala State Housing Board to fund the Rs.1-lakh award

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister for Housing and Forest Benoy Viswom has said that the State Government would soon institute an award in Laurie Baker's name to perpetuate his memory.

Rs.1-lakh award

The Minister said here on Wednesday that the award would be given to a voluntary organisation for creative contribution in cost-effective housing construction.

The Kerala State Housing Board (KSHB) would fund the Rs.1-lakh award.

Addressing a joint meeting of the Housing, Scheduled Castes and Tribal Welfare Department and Nirmithi Kendra here, the Minister said the State Government had received the Central Government and Hudco's clearance to begin work on the Habitat Centre in the State capital.

The Nirmithi Kendra's Training Centre would be named after Laurie Baker and would be developed as a centre that would propagate Baker's concepts, ideas and objectives.

Mr. Viswom said that the Government would take a considerate view about repayment of loans taken by the poorest of the poor from the Housing Board.

The Government to absorb the financial burden the Housing Board would have to incur on this count.

Special adalats would be organised in the districts to dispose off pending files that do not involve any financial commitment for the Housing Board.

This would be completed in two months time, the Minister added.

Meeting convened

The meeting was convened to evaluate the progress of the work on 5,000 houses taken up for construction for the Schedule Castes and Tribes Welfare Department in the 14 districts of the State.