Fulfilling the dream of homeless people, the construction of nearly 5,000 houses has been completed in various local bodies of Kozhikode district under the State government’s Livelihood Inclusion and Financial Empowerment (LIFE) Mission.
The achievement accounts for 70% of the target fixed by the district administration covering all needy beneficiaries, including members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, identified by local bodies with the support of the Kudumbasree Mission.
LIFE Mission District Project Officer P.D. Joseph said Kozhikode would be able to achieve 90% of the target in two months. “Though cent percent achievement is a bit challenging owing to technical reasons, we are sure to come very close to the target in the shortest possible time,” he added.
“For General Category and Scheduled Caste beneficiaries, the government will grant ₹4 lakh each as assistance. The beneficiaries can select any of the 12 selected plans for house construction,” said Mr. Joseph. He pointed out that Scheduled Tribe beneficiaries were eligible for ₹6 lakh as assistance.
In Kozhikode district, the total number of houses to be constructed under the scheme is 6,800. According to official figures, the construction of around 2,000 houses is yet to be completed. They also confirm that 19 local bodies have completed construction of houses under the scheme. Of the total completed projects, around 3,500 houses are within the limits of various grama panchayats.
Based on the latest project review report, Kozhikode stands fourth in the overall execution of the project. Palakkad district has secured the first place with the construction of around 6,000 houses. Wayanad and Thiruvananthapuram districts are in the second and third positions respectively in the fast project execution initiative.
Meanwhile, efforts are on to help beneficiaries selected for the second phase of the scheme in the district. In the confirmed list, there are 8,643 families who want to construct houses in their own land. Of them, 1,050 beneficiaries have been given the first instalment. Not less than 600 beneficiaries have already assigned work to contractors. Officials confirmed that all short-listed beneficiaries would be given the instalment before July 31.