SHELTER is one of the most basic needs of human beings along with food and clothing. In the run up to the Kerala state assembly elections in 2016, the LDF had announced that we will undertake a comprehensive housing programme to do away with homelessness in the state. Subsequently, when we assumed office, most of the people who came to the CM's office raised the issue of housing. Homeless, landless, those with incomplete houses, those living on government poramboke and so on raised their concerns.

It became evident to us that our approach in the manifesto was right, and that housing ought to be one of the foremost issues to be addressed. Accordingly, the Livelihood, Inclusion and Financial Empowerment (LIFE) Mission was developed. Now, we can proudly say that Kerala is inching towards becoming the first state in India with zero homeless, through the LIFE Mission. It is a time bound flagship housing programme with a multi-pronged approach aimed at improving the quality of life in the state as well. So far, the state government has spent Rs 6,552.23 crore under the LIFE Mission.

PHASE I & II

The activities of the LIFE Mission are structured in three phases. In the first phase, we have addressed the issue of incomplete houses. Their construction was started under a range of housing schemes since 2000, but could not be completed due to various reasons. Initially 54,850 houses were identified as incomplete. On the basis of field inspection the number was ascertained to be 54,173. Out of them, as on  February 28, 2020, the construction of 52,050 houses – 96.08 per cent – has been completed successfully at a cost of Rs 669.88 crore.

In the second phase, financial assistance is provided to those who have their own land, for constructing houses. Around 2.36 lakh homeless were identified to have land of their own. After the verification of documents, 2,36,892 beneficiaries were found to be eligible. Out of them 1,86,597 beneficiaries signed an agreement with the local governments and they are being provided with a financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh. It is issued in four stages, based on the progress of construction. Scheduled Tribe beneficiaries living in remote tribal hamlets are provided with an assistance of Rs 6 lakh, in five stages. Assistance is being issued to houses up to 400 sq. ft. in size.

In Phase II of LIFE Mission, as on February 28, 2020, 1,39,906 beneficiaries – 74.98 per cent – have completed the construction of their homes. The government of Kerala has spent Rs 5,851.23 crore in the second phase, which includes Rs 2,975 crore spent exclusively for LIFE, Rs 612.60 crore spent for PMAY Rural and Rs 2,263.63 crore spent for PMAY Urban. The remaining homes in the second phase are expected to be completed within this financial year.

As on February 28, 2020, 1,91,956 homes have been completed under Phases I and II of LIFE Mission. Meetings with beneficiary families who have already got their houses and government officials have been taking place at the block and district level. These meetings are being conducted to assure the beneficiaries of all the required follow up support, taking into account their financial status and social empowerment requirements.

PHASE III

In the third phase, landless and homeless beneficiaries are being rehabilitated. Around 3.28 lakh beneficiaries were initially identified as landless and homeless. After a thorough verification for which 2,29,310 appeared, 1,07,393 beneficiaries were found to be eligible. They are being rehabilitated in housing complexes. All the housing complexes under the third phase would be constructed using prefab technology to save time and labour.

As a pilot, a housing complex constructed by Bhavanam Foundation at Adimali gram panchayat in Idukki district was acquired by the LIFE Mission at a cost of Rs 24.82 crore. This seven storey building has 210 independent apartments of which 163 have already been occupied. Each apartment is 460 sq. ft. big and the complex has common facilities like lift, washing area, compost plant, health sub-centre, Kudumbashree counselling centre, youth club, gender club, crèche, etc. The beneficiaries will receive various livelihoods training as well.

Across the state, a total of 84 housing complexes will be completed in the third phase, by the end of October 2020. Administrative sanction has already been granted to all of them. Most of these projects are under various stages of implementation. At present, housing complexes at Perinthalmanna and Wadakkanchery, for which Rs 5 crore has already been spent, are nearing completion.

Under the Care Home Project of the Cooperative Department, 14 apartment complexes would be constructed additionally, across Kerala. Soil tests are currently being carried out in the identified locations. Apart from these, the LIFE Mission has also identified 200 locations around the state for the construction of apartment complexes. The construction of apartment complexes in all these locations would mark the completion of the third phase of the LIFE Mission.

OTHER HOUSING PROGRAMMES IN KERALA

Apart from the LIFE Mission, we have built 17,340 houses for families belonging to the Scheduled Castes, under the SC Development Department and 972 houses for families belonging to the Scheduled Tribes, under the ST Development Department. 3,632 houses have been built for fish workers through the Fisheries Department as well. A housing complex with 140 apartments has been built in Kozhikkode to rehabilitate the dwellers in Kalluthankadavu slum. 12 flats have been built for the homeless in Angamali as well. Altogether, 2,14,262 houses have been built in Kerala for the homeless during the tenure of this LDF government. This is in addition to the thousands of houses that are being rebuilt as part of the Rebuild Kerala Initiative, in lieu of the houses that were damaged or destroyed during the successive floods and landslides.

SPECIAL INTERVENTIONS BY THE LDF GOVERNMENT

It needs to be noted that ninety work days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and the Ayyankali Urban Employment Creation Scheme (AUECS) is spared for the construction of houses under the LIFE Mission. Special mention needs to be made of the fact that Kudumbashree has started women construction units to aid the LIFE Mission.

High cost of construction materials is one of the most important issues faced by the beneficiaries constructing houses on their own. Government had discussed this with various vendors and made arrangements for the distribution of electrical fittings, wiring material, paint, ceramic material, tap fittings, water tanks, cement, etc at a rate as low as 20 to 60 per cent of the MRP. This has helped each beneficiary who has built houses on his/her own to save Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000.

Apart from the mounting construction costs, another challenge we face is the recurrence of natural disasters. Government is poised to overcome them by resorting to sustainable and environmentally friendly methods of construction, like pre-fab structures, especially in Phase III.

LEFT ALTERNATIVE

LIFE Mission stands out as a Left and progressive alternative to the existing models of housing schemes in the country. What the LDF government has done, is to address the issue of livelihoods, along with housing. In many housing projects undertaken across the country, we have seen that beneficiaries have been uprooted from their original dwelling places. This has resulted in their livelihoods being jeopardised.

We took serious note of the issue and decided that beneficiaries were not to be displaced from their present location. They shouldn't have to choose between housing and employment. So, we ensured housing in such a way that their present livelihoods wouldn't be affected. Furthermore, we are ensuring facilities like anganwadis, palliative care, geriatric care etc and also imparting skill development and job oriented training which enables beneficiaries to secure better employment opportunities. Thus, we have shown what kind of an alternative, a progressive and proletarian outlook can present in India.

According to Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, it is the State's duty to ensure equality of persons within its territory and according to Article 21 the State should accord the protection of life to all persons. When it came to housing, we ensured equality, by bringing the various projects under one umbrella and giving equal treatment. We also understood that the right to life cannot be upheld properly by denying employment, and hence, we provided adequate protection for the same in our housing scheme as well.

LIFE Mission is a true example of a people's alternative. The pivotal role played by the local self governments and the mass participation in its activities evinces this fact. Public participation has helped in a big scale; individual donors have provided land, funds and building material. Workers have donated their labour, staying true to working class politics. The state has made budgetary allocation, we have secured funds through loans and utilised central funds.

Thus, the LIFE Mission has emerged as an example for the country to follow, as an outcome of the Kerala Model of Development. It is something unlike anything else done by the various central or state governments in the country. It is part of our effort to realise a Nava Keralam, which is a society that focuses on inclusivity and sustainability. It is a people's alternative, being championed by the CPI(M), which is leading the LDF government in Kerala.

2,14,762 new houses, LDF government surpasses another landmark

N S Sajith

ON February 29, 2020, when the national capital witnessed a turbulent time of communal violence, arson, and a notorious  genocide by and large in recent times, people of down south state, Kerala were preparing to celebrate a colossal house warming ceremony of  2,14,762 new homes. No wonder, it is definitely another Kerala model of making homeless people the proud owners of new home with all state of art facilities. This venture was materialised when hundreds of slum dwellers were evacuated from prime minister's homeland in the name of visit of American president, Donald Trump. LDF government in Kerala once again proved that the promises made in the election manifesto could be materialised with meticulous planning.

2,14,144 new houses are constructed by February 25th, under Livelihood Inclusion Financial Empowerment ( LIFE), a flagship program of LDF government since 2016. One lakh more houses will be constructed in next phase. Apartments are being constructed to the landless applicants.

In the first phase, 52,050 houses were completed at a cost of Rs 670 crore. In the second  phase, the number of households increased to 74,674.  Under the  project, 47,144 houses constructed in rural areas and 16,640 in urban areas. The state government has spent Rs 2876.23 crore on this. The SC department has completed 18,811, while  ST department and  fisheries department finishes 738, and 3725 houses. The third phase of the project has already begun.

In a colourful function held in Thiruvananthapuram, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced the completion of more than two lakh new houses. Before the function he attended the house warming ceremony of certain houses in capital city. A large section of home less people are became the owners of new homes today.

As far as Kerala is concerned 2,14,762 is not a small number. This day marks attainment of a long cherished dream of homeless people in both urban and rural areas. The government supported these people with various schemes of different departments of both state and centre. We have achieved this goal with the wholehearted support of people, Pinarayi said.