THIRUVANAHTAPURAM: If the recent survey conducted by the Planning Board across all panchayats is any indication, the housing situation in Kerala is quite alarming. According to the survey, there are 12 lakh homeless families in the state and most of them belong to the marginalised sections of society: SC, ST, fishermen, landless, destitute and women-headed households. Another survey had pointed out that of the 56,000 houses sanctioned this year in block panchayats, only 10 per cent had been finished. Under Indira Awas Yojana, the centre provides Rs 75,000 and the block panchayats Rs 3 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh assistance through various subsidies.
Interestingly, the government's housing policy announced in 2011 had set an objective of providing houses to all homeless families within five years. According to P.B. Sajan of COSTFORD who is also part of the government panel on housing, Laurie Baker used to call the homeless category as non-income group.
“Even if they are given Rs 3 lakh as assistance, they are not in a position to add on more money to complete the house. You can find unfinished houses across the state, a concrete structure with just walls and no roof. For instance, people who were once owners of autorickshaws had to sell or pledge the vehicle to complete their houses. In doing so they lose the main source of income and ultimately end up becoming jobless.” He said the construction cost of a 300 sq-feet house came to Rs 3.5 lakh if local materials are used and for 600 sq-ft, about Rs 6 lakh.
One of the many makeshift shelters where a family resides. (Photo: DC)
The 300 sq-ft house comprising a small sit-out, small bedroom, multi-purpose room, kitchen and toilet can accommodate a five-member family. Many believe that the government needs to have a relook at the entire scheme and explore the possibility of having a grassroots-level organisation in block panchayats, panchayats which can train multipurpose technician groups, groups of masons who can carry out the task of completing the buildings and constructing new ones.
There is an urgent need for the panchayats to launch an extensive drive to finish the unfinished houses even if it meant giving additional subsidy. “The target should be to complete the houses which are without roofs. If this is not taken on priority, many families would become homeless again,” said Sajan. They say there is a dire need to have an agency like Kudumbasree which can facilitate loans and schemes for housing. That means livelihood is important to ensure housing.
There are more than a dozen state government and central government housing schemes for the poor of which many are being implemented in Kerala, but a roof over the head still remains a distant dream for thousands of families in the state which boasts of high social indicators. What is more alarming is the increase in decadal percentage of urban population from 29.96 percent in 2001 to 47.72 percent in 2011.
The extremely high rate of urbanization taking place in the state which also has the third highest urban population in the country, has resulted in serious housing issues across towns and cities for the marginalised sections. The condition of urban colonies in many towns and cities is pathetic with people living in subhuman conditions.
As in the past, all major political parties have come out with lofty promises in their election manifestos.The LDF has promised to recreate EMS housing policy and M.N. Lakshamveedu scheme and merge them with the centre’s Indira Awas Yojana. It has decided to prepare a list of unfinished houses and formulate a scheme to complete these in a time-bound manner.
The LDF promises to construct one lakh houses every year and achieve houses for all within five years. The ruling UDF has incorporated ‘House for All’ as one of the major slogans in its manifesto. Besides it promises to reconstruct all houses under Laksham Veedu scheme, three cents of land for landless people to construct houses and a bumper housing lottery with the objective of raising money to provide houses to all homeless.
The BJP-led NDA has promised a Sree Narayana Guru housing policy to address the issue of homes and also dilapidated houses. The party aims to provide 5 lakh houses within three years. Notwithstanding the tall promises made by the political parties in their manifestos, experts do not see Kerala becoming zero homeless state in the near future.
Even the housing schemes that had been implemented in the past, including Lakshamveedu scheme, have become outdated. Clearly the government, planners and housing experts will have to put their heads together to find a realistic and scientific scheme to ensure a roof over the heads of the homeless.
