Kozhikode: For 40 families, a house now is no longer just a structure but the fulfilment of a long-cherished dream of owning a home. The key handover ceremony of 40 houses built under the ‘Ente Veedu' project, jointly implemented by the K Chittilappilly Foundation, led by Kochouseph Chittilappilly and Mathrubhumi, was held on Monday.

The ceremony was inaugurated by Kozhikode Mayor O Sadashivan at the K P Kesava Menon Hall. Addressing the gathering, the mayor said only those who have experienced homelessness truly understand its pain, and described the construction of homes for such families as a significant achievement. While several government schemes exist for the homeless, he noted that legal and procedural hurdles often prevent genuine beneficiaries from accessing them.

In many cases, once a family receives a house on a small plot of land, they are legally considered housed, making them ineligible for further assistance, even though their children later struggle to find affordable accommodation and are forced to depend on rented homes, the mayor said. Projects such as ‘Ente Veedu’, he added, go beyond the limitations of government systems to address real, on-the-ground challenges.

Mathrubhumi Chairman and Managing Editor P V Chandran delivered the keynote address, saying the partnership between Mathrubhumi and the Chittilappilly Foundation was driven by the goal of realising the dream of homeownership for the homeless. “Together, we have handed over not just keys, but a sense of security and confidence to the most deserving families. The joy we witnessed during the first phase inspired us to launch the second phase of the project,” he said.

Presiding over the function, Mathrubhumi Managing Director M V Shreyamskumar said the greatest achievement of the ‘Ente Veedu’ initiative was its acceptance as a people’s movement. In several locations, he said, local residents contributed land, funds and support to ensure houses were completed. In some areas where the cost exceeded the initial ₹4 lakh estimate, people’s committees were formed to raise additional resources, making the project a reality.

Life Mission District Mission Coordinator L N Shiju, K Chittilappilly Foundation Manager C J Manoj, Kozhikode Agro Foods and Exporters Private Limited Managing Director Harris Manalodi, Arikulam panchayat member Jasina Najeed, Mathrubhumi News Editor K G Girish Kumar and Assistant General Manager C Manikandan also spoke at the event.

According to organisers, 1,000 houses under the ‘Ente Veedu’ housing project were completed by 2025. Of the next 1,000 houses planned, 400 have already been completed and handed over, reinforcing the initiative’s role as a major social welfare and housing project in Kerala.