Thiruvananthapuram: While the controversy over the need for a union government's branding on the LIFE housing scheme rages on, the central government has not yet granted approval for the construction of more than two lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). As  result, Kerala has not yet received Rs 1500 crores.

Houses can be built only if the central approval is obtained. The state LIFE mission includes these houses as well. The Centre offers Rs 72,000 for the construction of houses in rural areas and Rs 1.5 lakh in urban areas. As the state government finds this amount insufficient, the administration provides the remaining amount and builds houses as a part of the LIFE mission under the PMAY scheme.

A central aid of Rs 1424 crore for urban areas and Rs 187 crore for rural areas has been received so far. Most of the houses that were sanctioned in the 2020-21 period are almost complete. 

However, the central government was not ready to neither determine nor grant the number of houses that would be built under the project for the next two financial years. The local governing body officials say that they have not received the Centre's nod despite repeated requests.

The states were advised to add the name and branding of the central government while implementing the centrally funded projects. It insisted on displaying the name and logo of the central project on the houses thus built. 

The state government did not give in, pointing out that doing this would affect the dignity of the beneficiary whilst clarifying that no such outwardly displays are present on the houses built under the Kerala LIFE mission scheme. Minister M.B Rajesh alleged that the Centre is purposefully being vindictive 


Rural houses: 2,36,670
Urban houses: 1,31,926

Sanctioned in 2020-21
Rural: 2,36,670 of which 32,646 are complete.