Uncertainty over KIIFB funding slows Nava Kiranam project

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Nava Kiranam project, under which the government acquires patta land in forest areas and provides financial assistance to landowners to relocate to places of their choice, is progressing slowly amid uncertainty over funding from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).

The project has primarily depended on KIIFB funding. Its future financial assistance will become clear only after the assessment of a five-member committee headed by former Principal Finance Secretary Sudha Pillai, which was appointed to examine the functioning of KIIFB.
More than 5,000 applicants have expressed willingness to hand over their land to the government, while land belonging to around 1,200 applicants has already been acquired.

Launched on November 14, 2019, Nava Kiranam provides an opportunity for non-tribal families living in forest areas to opt for voluntary rehabilitation. The scheme also seeks to increase the extent of forest land and allows those facing difficulties due to wildlife attacks and natural disasters to relocate.

Under the scheme, those who own land without a dwelling are eligible for ₹15 lakh for land up to five acres (two hectares), with the land being treated as one unit based on its extent.

A family with a house and minor children is also eligible for ₹15 lakh per unit. If the family has adult children, each of them is treated as a separate family and considered as an individual unit.

The Rebuild Kerala Development Programme (RKDP) has allocated ₹100 crore for the scheme, while ₹120 crore has been sanctioned through KIIFB. The assistance is provided in two instalments, of which KIIFB has released ₹65 crore so far. The Forest and Revenue departments are responsible for implementing the scheme.

Forest department officials said the scheme would not be discontinued despite the delay. However, new applications will be considered only after both instalments have been paid to each applicant.