Kerala still has a long way to go to make the concept of a homeless-free Kerala a reality. If the central-led Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and the LIFE scheme of the state government were approached with more seriousness, the waiting time of lakhs for a house could have been reduced significantly. Unfortunately, the housing projects which are supposed to benefit the poor are seen in a sad state of being lost in political controversies.

There is a target on the number of houses to be completed every year according to the LIFE project. The Centre's PMAY scheme also has a specific target. However, the reality is that both these projects have not achieved the desired speed. The state and the central ministers are blaming each other. It is not right for the authorities to waste valuable time arguing over housing schemes when many poor people have been waiting for years for a secure house.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while participating in the Navakerala Sadas in Kannur, said that if the allocation of funds to be given by the Center had not been constantly blocked, Kerala would have already achieved the goal of everyone with a house. He also mentioned several challenges the LIFE project is facing. The Chief Minister's announcement that no matter where the challenges arise, the state government will achieve its goal in this regard, is a relief to the lakhs of people who are waiting for a home. It was targeted to construct 71,868 houses according to the LIFE scheme this year. Those contracted for construction are close to one and a half lakh. Construction of 'LIFE' houses is slow in many places due to various reasons. The fact that only a quarter of the targeted houses have been completed so far is a sign of indifference to the implementation of the housing project.

Many people who even demolished the existing house and started building a new house, have not been provided with the necessary funds to complete the construction in time. This is where most of the complaints are raised regarding the project. Three to four months is enough to complete a small house as per the model set by the government. It is just that financial aid should be made available at the right time. The funds are getting blocked and the beneficiaries are suffering, due to the procedures and red tapes that are part of the government scheme. If we want to achieve the great goal of housing for all in five years, we need to work more efficiently.

The problems experienced today in the implementation of the project should be solved by studying and examining the obstacles. Those who criticize the plan from outside should give full support and help to the government at least on this issue. Let's not forget that those who are waiting for a house include people from all parties and factions. A safe home is everyone's dream. Those who oppose the housing scheme for narrow political reasons are killing this dream of the poor and this is an unpardonable sin.