Public Works and Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas will declare Kozhikode an ‘Extreme poverty-free city’ at an event to be held at Mohammed Abdurahiman Sahib Memorial Jubilee Hall at Tali at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Mayor Beena Philip will preside over the event while MLAs Thottathil Raveendran and Ahamed Devarkovil will be the guests of honour.

Ms. Philip told reporters here on Friday that 722 families had been identified as those living in extreme poverty in a survey conducted by the corporation almost a year ago. The Corporation has prepared a comprehensive plan to improve their situation. Their needs include food, medical support, jobs for those who are able to work and a permanent place to live.

“At present, the Corporation is providing food to 650 people daily, medical support to 635, jobs to 11, house renovation assistance for 236, and houses to 13 people under the PMAY-LIFE scheme. Of the 90 families that did not have their own land, 32 have been accommodated in the apartment complex at Kalluthankadavu. Land has been identified to construct houses for 33 families at Marad, while land was purchased at Nellikode for 25 others,” she said. She added that the Corporation has set aside funds for the construction of the houses.

Earlier in the Corporation Council meeting, Opposition councillors questioned the ‘haste’ in making the declaration as the target was yet to be met. Councillors M.C. Sudhamani and C.S. Sathyabhama alleged that several deserving people had been excluded from the list of beneficiaries despite repeated requests to include them.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor Navya Haridas and Congress councillor K.C. Shobhita termed the declaration an eyewash as the dream of an extreme poverty-free city was yet to be realised. Ms. Shobhita expressed concern that those who had been excluded from the list might not be able to get support from the government in the future after the city has been declared poverty-free.

Deputy Mayor C.P. Musafar Ahamed said that all arrangements had been made for the smooth progress of the project.