Kerala crosses 5-lakh housing mark under LIFE Mission, announces CM Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday announced that the state has completed construction of five lakh houses under the LIFE Mission , describing it as a major milestone in the effort to eliminate homelessness in Kerala .

Launched in 2016 by the Left Democratic Front government, the LIFE Mission is Kerala’s flagship housing programme aimed at providing safe homes to the homeless, landless families, and people living in unsafe or dilapidated dwellings. The scheme also prioritises vulnerable groups such as Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, widows, and families below the poverty line.

The Chief Minister said the state has spent about ₹20,831.60 crore on the programme up to February 2026, reflecting one of the largest housing investments undertaken by the state government.

Under the scheme, most beneficiary families receive financial assistance of ₹4 lakh for house construction, while Scheduled Tribe families can receive up to ₹6 lakh. The funding model combines state resources, local body contributions and institutional financing, making it significantly more generous than many central housing programmes.

Unlike fixed-design housing models such as “double-bedroom” schemes implemented in some states, the LIFE Mission does not mandate uniform housing units. Instead, it provides financial support so families can build modest permanent houses suited to local needs, terrain and costs. This flexibility has been cited by officials as a reason for its relatively high completion rate.

Officials say the programme has evolved into a comprehensive housing intervention covering land purchase support, house construction assistance and rehabilitation of families living in extreme poverty. Earlier progress reports showed lakhs of beneficiaries identified across districts, with construction continuing in phases even after the latest milestone.

Vijayan also announced that a state-level event to mark the achievement will be held in Thiruvananthapuram on February 24.