No Decision to Dismantle LIFE Mission Housing Scheme: Kerala's LSG Minister

Kozhikode, May 25: Kerala's Local Self Government Minister K M Shaji has clarified that the UDF government has no plans to disband the LIFE Mission housing scheme. He stated that restoring powers to grama sabhas does not equate to scrapping the project.

Minister's Clarification

Shaji told reporters in Malappuram that many of the powers vested with grama sabhas in panchayats had been taken away over the past 10 years. "When we say those powers will be restored, it does not mean the LIFE Mission will be scrapped. We have never said such a thing," he said.

Governance Continuum

Shaji said the new government was not aiming to dismantle projects launched by the previous dispensation. "Government is a continuum. When a new government comes to power, it cannot simply destroy projects implemented over five or 10 years and replace them with entirely new ones. That is not how governance works. But we will move forward by correcting shortcomings wherever needed," Shaji said.

UDF's Approach

He added that the UDF had highlighted certain issues related to the previous government before the people and secured their mandate on that basis. "We will have our own approach towards those matters. But there will be no move to demolish every project introduced by the previous government, rename them and launch them afresh," Shaji said.

CPM's Concerns

The CPM state secretariat had warned of statewide agitation if the government fails to backtrack from what it called a 'politically motivated and anti-people' decision to scrap the LIFE Mission. The party argued that scrapping the mission would shatter the dreams of hundreds of thousands of underprivileged families. CPM noted that LIFE Mission has delivered over 5,00,000 homes across Kerala, with more than 1,00,000 houses currently in various stages of construction.