Thiruvananthapuram, 24 Feb (H.S.):Kerala will mark a major milestone in its flagship housing programme as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan formally announces the completion of five lakh houses constructed under the State government’s LIFE Mission scheme today.
The Chief Minister will begin the day by attending the housewarming ceremony of Komalakumari, a beneficiary from Karakulam Grama Panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram district, at 11 a.m. Ministers and local representatives are also expected to participate in the function. Later in the evening, at 4 p.m., he will make the official declaration of the five-lakh housing milestone at a public event to be held at Poojappura Ground in the capital city.
According to official figures released by the government, a total of 6,04,046 houses have been sanctioned under the LIFE Mission so far. Of these, construction has been completed on 5,00,364 houses, while the remaining 1,03,682 homes are at various stages of construction. The scheme is aimed at providing safe and secure housing to homeless and landless families across the State, with a special focus on vulnerable sections of society.
Under the financial assistance structure of the programme, beneficiaries from Scheduled Tribe communities receive ₹6 lakh for house construction, while those in the general category are granted ₹4 lakh. The State government has maintained that the LIFE Mission is one of the most comprehensive housing initiatives implemented in Kerala, integrating support from local self-government institutions and various agencies.
The evening function will be presided over by Local Self-Government Minister M.B. Rajesh. Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, elected representatives, and other dignitaries are expected to attend.
During the ceremony, individuals and organisations that extended significant support to the housing initiative will be honoured. Among them is K. Sukumaran Vaidyar, who donated 2.61 acres of land for the ‘Manasodithiri Mannu’ project. The Chief Minister will also felicitate the K. Chittilappilly Foundation and Lions International for their contributions to the successful implementation of the LIFE Mission.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
