Trivandrum: The Mathipuram slum area at Vizhinjam has more than a thousand families residing there and they don’t have a water connection or enough toilets. The area was chosen to implement the pilot project of the slum eradication program developed under Rajiv Awaz Yojna (RAY). The Centre gave approval for the project report in January and Mathipuram was all set to undergo a major face-lift.

Later on, the project report was sent to the office of the Chief Engineer of Local Self Government to obtain technical sanction. The project was to be implemented by Kudumbashree and the City Corporation. Half a year later, the concerned authorities are trying to wash their hands off what they now consider to be a mess.

“We are not directly involved with the project. The project is to be carried out by the Corporation and our job is to provide them with the required assistance at the time of implementation of the project” says an official at Kudumbashree.