Cisco will build 4,000 houses at a cost of $10 million

Bengaluru
Oct. 22: When it pours… Flood victims in the under-developed north must place their faith in a state government turning increasingly to corporates to rebuild homes and infrastructure in Karnataka’s 16 flood ravaged districts.

Kicking off the launch on Thursday with the B.S. Yeddyurappa government on their new initiative Aasare or shelter was Cisco, which became the first multinational to sign on to the new public-private partnership programme.

Cisco will build 4,000 houses at a cost of $10 million. It will also set up two schools and provide healthcare software as part of a plan to introduce a telemedicine facility in the northern districts where floods destroyed the existing facilities.

Under the Aasare programme, the government will identify land on which the corporates will build houses for flood victims, a tired looking Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said, clearly signaling that he intends to get moving on the issue.

Appreciating Cisco’s gesture, Mr Yeddyurappa lauded the company “for exhibiting its corporate social responsibility,” and praised it “as a model for other companies to follow.” Last count, the chief minister’s kitty was overflowing. Rs 500 crore. Is there more coming?