THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: M B Rajesh, the local self-government and excise minister, assured the assembly on Wednesday that the state government is dedicated to resolving delays in fund disbursements for housing construction under the Life Mission project, emphasizing significant progress made thus far.
In response to a query from Congress MLA P C Vishnunath, Rajesh reported that since the project’s initiation in 2017 until September 16, 2025, 595,536 beneficiaries have been identified. Out of this number, 462,412 families now occupy completed homes, while an additional 133,124 houses are in various stages of construction. “By the end of the current government’s tenure, over six lakh beneficiaries will have received homes through the Mission,” Rajesh stated.
He detailed the funding structure, explaining that the government allocates ₹4 lakh for each house, derived from the state share, local body contributions, and loans from Hudco. Local bodies are responsible for distributing their share to beneficiaries. “When local bodies exceed their capacity, the state steps in with additional support,” he noted.
To alleviate financial bottlenecks, Rajesh mentioned that the government has recently approved additional borrowing. “As per the order dated August 21, 2025, permission was granted to secure another ₹1,500 crore through the Kerala Urban and Rural Development Finance Corporation, ensuring that future installments under the scheme remain uninterrupted,” he explained.
Rajesh also compared Kerala’s initiative with the central government’s PM Awas Yojana (PMAY). “Under PMAY, the Centre only provides ₹72,000 per unit, with the state contributing ₹48,000 and another ₹15,000 raised through the employment guarantee scheme, totaling ₹1.35 lakh. In contrast, Kerala allocates ₹4 lakh per house under Life Mission—the highest in any state. For tribal families and those categorized as extremely poor, the assistance rises to ₹6 lakh. Recently, the government extended ₹6 lakh to landless homeless families to acquire land and construct a dwelling,” he stated. To date, ₹18,885 crore has been disbursed under Life Mission, with ₹16,000 crore sourced from the state and ₹2,080 crore from the Centre.
Addressing the issue, Vishnunath claimed that the delays have left many beneficiaries in limbo. “Numerous families have been unable to finish their houses, including those who demolished their old homes under the assurance of new ones. The state set the ₹4 lakh per unit limit a decade ago, but given current construction costs, that amount is inadequate. The government should promptly reassess the assistance,” he remarked. Rajesh countered that while such criticisms reflect reality, the overall progress underscores the program’s effectiveness.
