Forest Dept. gives loans to tribal families near Anaikatti in Coimbatore to realise their dream for home

COIMBATORE The Forest Department has given loans to the tune of ₹2 lakh to the tribal families of

The Forest Department has given loans to the tune of ₹2 lakh to the tribal families of Kandivazhi settlement near Anaikatti in Coimbatore district to realise their dream for new homes.

The Department released ₹20,000 each to 10 Irula families of the settlement using the funds of the Tamil Nadu Afforestation Project which is supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The amount has become a big relief for the families as the construction of their houses is pending due to financial issues.

Coimbatore District Forest Officer T.K. Ashok Kumar gave away the loans to the families on Saturday in the presence of Coimbatore forest range officer R. Arun Kumar. 

The houses are being built under the Chief Minister’s Solar Powered Green House project wherein a tribal beneficiary gets ₹3 lakh.

“The government releases the ₹3 lakh to the beneficiaries in four stages. They need to claim the money when construction of each stage is completed. The families sought loans from the Forest Department to complete the construction. The current plan is to have a toilet attached to each house and the families also seek assistance from the corporate social responsibility funds of companies,” said Joshua G.P.N., a social worker from Anaikatti.

Mr. Kumar said Kandivazhi was a forest dependent village and members from the tribal community were also involved in collecting minor forest products such as tamarind, grass for broom making and gooseberry. The loans were released by the DFO as a support to the tribal community, he said.

The beneficiaries will have to repay the loans with a minimal interest in 11 months. Tribal families can further avail themselves of loans from the funds regenerated along with the interests.