NGO to build, repair 6,000 homes in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 6: With an aim to rebuild Kerala, devastated by unprecedented floods in August, NGO Habitat for Humanity India would build and repair 6,000 homes of those affected by the deluge.
The initiative is being taken up by the NGO as part of the second second edition of Jacqueline Builds - a unique campaign featuring Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez.
The second edition to be held in December this year, would focus on rebuilding homes that were fully or partially damaged by the deluge, a press release said.
The campaign would have Jacqueline Fernandez visiting few flood-affected areas in Kerala and volunteering to construct and repair flood-affected homes.
She would also urge her fans to come together to rebuild Kerala, the release added.
The Habitat for Humanity India is actively involved in the relief operations in response to the floods and landslides in Kerala.
In the first phase of the relief operations, the organisation provided First Responders' Kit, humanitarian aid Kit and bottled drinking water to 93,889 families.
In the second and third phase, it would construct and repair homes for 6000 flood-affected families in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Wayanad districts and rehabilitate them.
The release quoting her said, "The recent flood in Kerala has severely affected thousands of families and damaged homes.
This is the time when the people in Kerala need our whole-hearted support to bring life back on track.
That's the reason why, I will be coming to Kerala reconstruct homes, rebuild lives. I am looking forward to meeting people in Kerala and work with the volunteers in Kerala."
Previously with Jacqueline Builds, she helped us in reaching out to celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan to help flood-affected families in Tamil Nadu.
Based on the detailed field assessments, 8 severely affected districts have been identified for immediate and future interventions, said Managing Director of Habitat for Humanity India, Rajan Samuel.
As many as 491 people have lost lives in the state since the onset of the monsoon on May 28.
The Jacqueline Builds campaign played a key role during the relief and rehabilitation process after the flood in Tamil Nadu in 2016.
Jacqueline travelled to Tamil Nadu to volunteer her service to the cause of rebuilding homes of the flood-affected people.
Habitat for Humanity India built and repaired 671 homes, constructed 356 sanitation units and distributed about 7,000 humanitarian aid kits containing items such as tarpaulin sheet, nylon rope, water filter and a personal hygiene kit in Tamil Nadu.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
