Kerala's LIFE Scheme to Complete 5 Lakh Homes by February, Says Chief Minister

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced that the ambitious LIFE mission, aimed at providing homes to the needy, will reach its goal of building five lakh houses by next month. As of now, 4,76,076 homes have been completed and handed over to families, with 1,24,471 houses still under construction. The remaining homes will be completed by February.

The Chief Minister highlighted that as the global housing crisis deepens, the need for affordable housing becomes more urgent. Nearly one in five people worldwide lack adequate shelter, and an estimated 160 crores of people face this challenge. He noted that the LIFE scheme is Kerala's response to this issue, focusing on those without land or financial resources to build their own homes. Unlike many national housing schemes that offer limited financial aid, LIFE provides comprehensive support. Beneficiaries receive 4 lakh rupees for construction, access to discounted building materials, and job opportunities through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

The scheme prioritizes marginalized groups, including people with mental health issues, disabilities, the homeless, transgender individuals, single mothers, widows, and others facing economic hardship due to accidents, the Chief Minister added.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the fundamental political question facing governments today is whether they should be responsible for ensuring basic rights for the people or whether they should withdraw from welfare work and pave the way for private capital. The LDF government, he said, has answered this by implementing the LIFE scheme, a people-centric initiative that puts citizens' needs first.