Govt’s zero-homeless state project gets Cabinet nod

Thiruvananthapuram: The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the government’s housing scheme, a complete rehabilitation package for the homeless and landless with an aim to make Kerala zero-homeless state in the next five years.

The scheme is expected to directly benefit over 4.70 lakh families.

The LDF government, which completed 100 days in office, had recently announced the project titled "Project LIFE" (Livelihood, Inclusion, Financial Empowerment) envisaging not just giving a roof for those who do not have houses, but also a complete rehabilitation package for the homeless and landless in the state.

Under the programme, a string of model residential complexes, where a large number of people can be accommodated together will be constructed in select locations, Vijayan said.

The LIFE complexes would have all basic amenities ranging from power supply, drinking water, sanitation facilities, cooking gas, bio-metric-controlled entrances, security systems, rain water harvesting and solar panel roofs besides creche, palliative care units and skill training centres, he said.

The skill training centres at the complexes would help the adult occupants fetch means of livelihood and attain financial empowerment.

With the support of Social Justice and Local Self Government and Labour Departments, they would get training in a wide range of skills including in palliative care, farming, plumbing, electrical, mechanical and mason works and household duties, the Chief Minister said.

The Left government zeroed in on the housing complexes instead of building individual houses keeping in mind the intense shortage of land in the densely populated state.

According to official figures, 4.70 lakh families remain homeless in the state. Of them, only 2.91 lakh families have adequate land for constructing houses. The remaining 1.79 lakh families are not only homeless but also landless.