LIFE Mission Set to Complete Five Lakh Homes Next Month in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s LIFE (Livelihood Inclusion and Financial Empowerment) Mission is on track to become a historic milestone, with the number of completed homes expected to cross five lakh next month.

The project, recognised by NITI Aayog as a national model and best-practice initiative, is being hailed as a major achievement by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government despite attempts by the central government to undermine it. Opposition parties, the United Democratic Front (UDF) and BJP, continue to criticise the scheme.

According to Minister M B Rajesh, sharing the update on his official Facebook account, the total number of homes sanctioned under the LIFE Mission has now crossed 600,000. Of the 600,547 houses contracted with beneficiaries and under construction, 476,076 homes have been completed, while 124,471 are in various stages of progress. With the current pace, the historic milestone of five lakh completed homes is expected next month.

Kerala provides the highest per-unit financial assistance for housing in India. Scheduled Castes in remote areas receive 600,000 rupees per home, while other beneficiaries are granted 400,000 rupees. No other state provides even half of this amount. To date, the state has spent 19,127.47 crore rupees on the LIFE Mission, of which only 2,301 crore came from the central government under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The remaining 16,826.47 crore rupees were mobilised jointly by the state government and local self-government institutions.

Local bodies contribute from development funds, including loan repayments, while the state government bears all interest costs. Each home also receives a separate state grant. Only 128,236 homes have received central support. Despite the Centre’s limited contribution of 72,000 rupees per house and attempts to threaten the project board, Kerala continues to push the scheme forward.

The UDF has threatened to dismantle the LIFE Mission, mocking the 460,000 homes built so far, while the BJP and Congress have historically neglected the housing needs of the poor. Over the past nine years, the LDF has helped 500,000 families realise their dream of owning a home, facing continued opposition from both UDF and BJP.