92

CHAPTER 4

HOUSING CONDITIONS IN KERALA

Kerala is a small state situated in the south west corner of

India. The state of Kerala was formed on 1st November 1956 by

uniting Travancore Cochin State and Malabar under the state’s

Reorganization Act of 1956.The population of the state was 2.91

crore in 1991 with a density of 749 persons per sq. k.M; the second

highest among the states of India,7 times the national average. With

only 1.2% of total area of India, Kerala supports according to 1991

census 3.5% of the nation’s population.The population of the state

has increased from 63.74 lakhs in 1901 to 318.41 lakhs in 2001 as

shown in the table 4.1 and figure 4.1.The total population of the state

has increased from318.41 lakh in 2001 to 333.87 lakhs in 2011. But

the rural population has decreased from 235.74 lakh to 174.55 and

urban population has increased from 82.67 lakhs to 159.32 lakhs in

the same period. The alarming rate of increase in population resulted

in increased demand for housing. Supply of houses has not kept pace

with the growing demand.

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Table 4.1

Growth of population-Kerala. (In lakhs)

Year Rural Urban Total Decade

Growth rate of population

1901 59.20 4.54 63.74 -

1911 66.23 5.25 71.48 11.75

1921 71.21 6.81 78.02 9.16

1931 85.91 9.16 95.07 21.85

1941 98.36 11.96 110.32 16.04

1951 117.23 18.26 135.49 22.82

1961 143.50 25.54 169.04 24.76

1971 178.81 34.66 213.47 26.29

1981 206.82 47.71 254.53 19.24

1991 214.18 76.80 290.98 14.32

2001 235.74 82.67 318.41 9.42

2011* 174.55 159.32 333.87 4.86 Source: “Report on Brochure on Housing Statistics” Kerala, Trivandrum 2007. * Kerala Population Census 2011.http://www.prkerala.com/population.htm.

Growth of population naturally leads to growth of households.

This is shown in the Table and figure 4.2. The increase from 14.52

lakhs in 1921 to 67.26 lakhs in 2001 in the total number of

households portrays clearly that that the number of rural households

were greater than the urban households.

94

Figure 4.1

Growth of Population in Kerala (in lakhs)

Year

 Pop

ulation 

95

Table 4.2

Growth of Households (in lakhs)

Year Rural Urban Total Decade variation of

households %

1921 13.38 1.14 14.52 -

1931 15.55 1.42 16.97 16.87

1941 17.74 1.89 19.63 15.67

1951 19.43 2.58 22.01 12.12

1961 24.22 3.81 28.03 27.35

1971 29.19 5.14 34.33 22.48

1981 36.31 7.92 44.23 28.84

1991 41.02 14.11 55.13 24.64

2001 50.10 17.16 67.26 22.00

Source: “Brochure on Housing Statistics” Kerala TVM 2007

During the three decades from 1911, the growth rate in the

number of houses almost kept pace with the population growth rates

and thereafter the population growth exceeded the growth of houses

till 1981. In the decade 1981-91, the index of houses exceeded the

index of population. Number of houses per 1000 population remained

at 178 in 1931 and 1941 and thereafter declined to 160 in 1971.

During the decade 1981-91, it reached 282 houses per population

96

(George, 2002). The housing shortage in Kerala from 1971 -2001 is

depicted in the table 4.3

Figure 4.2 Growth of Households (in lakhs)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001

rural

urban

total

Table 4.3

Housing shortage in Kerala (in lakhs)

Year Shortage of houses

1971 1.25*

1981 1.26 1986 1.24 1991 1.20 1996 1.13 2001 1.03

Source: * Draft Fifth Five year plan.Vol.II 1978- 83, &Economic Review -various issues.

         Hou

seho

lds in Lakhs 

               Year 

97

4.1 Housing Scenario in the State

The population in Kerala state as per 2001 census was 3.18 %

of the country’s population, but the housing stock was 66 lakh, which

was 3.75 % of the total stock of housing in the country. Estimates

based on 2001 census show that there was only a numerical shortage

of 0.63 lakh housing units in the state (Economic review 2009). But

the number of dilapidated houses was 5.38 lakh. With the rate of

growth of family formation remaining constant, another 4.0 lakh

houses may be required to accommodate newly formed households.

The housing problem in the state affects the really poor and needy.

Paucity of purchasing power, poverty, lack of security of tenure for

land, speculative land market, inflexible housing finance system,

inappropriate planning and building regulations, lack of awareness

about building materials and construction technologies and problems

with the institutional framework are barriers in providing adequate

support to the poor (Department of Housing, 2011). However

housing in-equality has widened in Kerala. Although the gap between

aggregate supply and aggregate demand has decreased considerably,

in 2001, more than 8% of the households lived in extremely poor

quality or dilapidated houses (as against only 5.6% at the India level).

There is a concentration of substandard or inadequate houses with

high density and overcrowding, insanitary conditions, absence of

basic amenities and slum like conditions in certain rural and urban

pockets in the state.

Taking in to consideration, the reconstruction of dilapidated

houses and major repairs and renovation of a substantial number of

houses, the total demand by 2011-12 is assessed at around 10 lakh

98

units (in rural and urban areas)requiring an investment of the order 0f

Rs28000 crores, covering the needs of all groups. Nearly 4.6 lakh

houses are needed for the very poor under Economically Weaker

Section (EWS) in urban and rural areas, around 1.4 lakhs for EWS

above poverty line, 2 lakhs for low income groups and 1.5 lakhs for

middle income group and 0.5 lakhs for high income group families.

The total number of homeless families in Kerala is estimated as 7.1

lakh as shown in the table 4.4. Out of this 3.72 lakh people are

landed, but houseless and the number of landless and houseless

people is 3.33 lakh.

According to the general survey conducted in 2007, it was

estimated that the projected demand was 10.84 lakhs housing units in

the state. Based on this Economic survey, the housing stock of the

state was 69, 85,419 units and the current stock is estimated at 75

lakh residential units. The projected demand for the new population

up to the end of the 12th plan period is 6.5lakhs Apart from this there

is a need for reconstruction of 5.5 lakhs units of dilapidated houses.

The state has to undertake the task of constructing 12 lakh housing

units, of which around sixty percent is for the EWS of the society.

Considering an amount of Rs 2 lakhs for the construction of a

residential unit, it is estimated that a total amount of Rs 15,000 crores

is needed as investment in the Housing sector for EWS and

disadvantaged groups (Department of Housing, 2011).

99

Table 4.4

Number of Homeless and Landless Families in Kerala

SL.No Name of District

No of families

with land but

homeless

No of families who are landless

and homeless

Total No of

families who are

homeless

1 Thiruvananthapuram 30989 42445 73434

2 Kollam 25527 20165 45692

3 Pathanamthitta 18270 21198 39468

4 Alappuzha 9668 6709 16377

5 Kottayam 106226 12052 118278

6 Idukki 11967 71104 83071

7 Ernakulum 22230 19128 41358

8 Thrissur 27286 19959 47245

9 Palakkad 35272 35571 70843

10 Malappuram 14763 15990 30753

11 Kozhikode 19373 13038 32411

12 Wayanad 14972 19266 34238

13 Kannur 27688 31717 59405

14 Kasargod 8253 4614 12867

Total 372484 332956 705440 Source : Economic Review 2009

Market forces dominate the housing scenario in the state.

Quality building materials and modern structural design options are

available at competitive rates and comparatively affordable housing

100

finance is available from commercial banks and housing finance

institutions, to all those who can provide collateral security. Though

the people living on the margins of main streams of development

cannot afford modern building materials and technology, they are

either unaware or do not have access to traditional materials and

construction methodology.

There is also the problem of new consumer preference and of

the perception that traditional materials and methods may not be

sturdy. Homeless people or those without adequate housing, aspire to

get houses built with modern materials and to scales they cannot

afford. Financial assistance from the Government is needed to meet

their housing needs. So the government’s housing schemes under five

year plans is worth mentioning.

4.2 Housing Schemes under Five Year Plans in Kerala

State intervention in the housing sector began in the 1950s. Till

1970, it was confined to the implementation of the schemes

sponsored by the Central Government. By 1970, the Central

Government transferred their housing schemes to the State

Government (George and Abu, 2005).

4.2.1 Housing Schemes under the First Plan

There was no provision for housing in the original plan (Istplan),

but an allotment of Rs 10 lakhs has since been made under this head.

The housing scheme under the first plan is mainly intended for

providing houses, house sites to the houseless people of the state

(Travancore Cochin Five Year Plan 1950). For this purpose,the poor

101

people of the state have been broadly classified under the following

heads:-

(a) Rural agricultural labourers,

(b) Fisher men,

(c) Municipal menials (sweepers and scavengers)

(d) Industrial labourers, and

(e) Other labourers.

The scheme is worked out through (1) Co-operative societies

for agricultural labourers, fishermen and ‘other labourers’ (2) through

Municipalities, for municipal menials (3) through industrial concerns

for industrial labourers. Funds required for the Housing

Scheme,which includes cost of acquisition of lands, construction of

houses and provision of common amenities, will ordinarily be

advanced by the Government, and such advances will be treated as

interest-free loans, repayable within 25 years on an installment basis.

In the case of industrial labour, common amenities such as latrines,

wells etc will have to be provided by the industrial concerns

themselves. In rural areas, latrines and wells attached to the houses

constructed under the auspices of co-operative societies will be

provided by the Public Health Department under the Rural Sanitation

and Water supply schemes.

For the construction of houses for industrial labour, the

Government will advance 50% of the cost of construction or Rs 750

102

per houses, whichever is less and the remaining portion will be

contributed by the industrial concerns.The houses will be constructed

in accordance with type designs approved by the Government under

the supervision and control of the Departmental Engineers. The

houses and the sites on which they are constructed will remain the

property of the Government till the amounts advanced by the

government are realized in full from the Co-operative societies,

Municipalities or industrial concerns as the case may be and they will

execute agreements in favour of the Government in respect of

repayment of the loans advanced to them under the scheme.

The Co-operative Societies, Municipalities and industrial

concerns will allot the houses to the parties on the following terms:

a) The co-operative society will enter in to agreements with the

parties to whom the houses are allotted, for the repayment of the

cost of houses within a maximum period of 25 years. The

amount may be paid in monthly, quarterly, half yearly or annual

installments as agreed to between them and will be free of

interest. The parties will not have any alienable right in respect

of the houses or the sites for 25 years and even after 25 years the

societies will have the first option to purchase them from the

parties.

b) The Municipalities will realize an annual rent not exceeding

2½ percent of the actual cost of a house from the menial

employees to whom the houses are allotted.

103

c) The industrial concerns will realize an annual rent not exceeding

2 ½ percent of actual cost of a house from the labourers of the

company to whom the houses are allotted.

d) With regard to houses constructed by Municipalities and

Industrial concerns, the parties to whom they are allotted are not

entitled to ownership of the houses or house sites.

Apart from the above schemes for providing houses and house

sites, house sites will be given to the poor through co-operative

societies. The value of the land acquired for the purpose will be

treated as interest free loans repayable within 25 years on an

instalment basis. Loans will be granted to competent co-operative

societies at 4% interest for purposes of houses construction. The

loans will be limited to rupees one lakh per society. With a view to

implementing the scheme as expeditiously as possible, the

Government has constituted a Housing Board consisting of 13

members including the Minister in charge of Housing and the

Minister for finance.

4.2.2 Housing Schemes under the Second Plan

In the second plan, five separate housing schemes were included

namely:

(1)subsided industrial housing Scheme, (2)low income group

housing Scheme which included low income group housing scheme,

settlement scheme, poor housing scheme, Housing for employees of

local bodies and Co-operative Housing scheme (3)Plantation Labour

Housing, (4)Slum clearance and (5)Village Housing Scheme.

104

1. The subsidized Industrial Housing scheme is a Government of

India Scheme for providing housing facilities to Industrial workers. It

proposes the construction of single storeyed one roomed, (standard

cost-Rs 3300) single storeyed two –roomed (standard cost-Rs3850),

double storeyed one roomed (Rs3500) and double storeyed two –

roomed (Rs 4200) buildings. These buildings will be given on rent to

these workers coming under the perview of the Factories Act 1948 or

Mines act of 1952 and Workers employed in corporations and

companies fully or partially owned by the central or state

Government. The construction will be carried out (1) state

Governments or statutory Housing Bodies (2) Employers and (3)

Registered co-operative societies of Industrial workers (Second Five

Year Plan 1958). The second plan made a provision of Rs 51.00 lakhs

for this scheme. The physical target set for this scheme was 1324

houses.

2. (a) The Low Income Group Housing scheme

This is a scheme sponsored and financed by the Government

of India with a view to help people belonging to low income groups

(having incomes not exceeding Rs 6000 per annum) to build houses

by extending long term loans to state governments and they in turn to

the parties.

Under the scheme, loans are advanced to the state

Governments at 41/2% of interest per annum for disbursement to

persons whose income does not exceed Rs 6000 per annum or to

housing co-operative societies consisting of such persons. The loan

given by the state Government to parties should not exceed 80 % of

105

the actual estimated cost of the house, inclusive of land subject to a

maximum of Rs 8000 per house. State Government is imposing 5%

interest per annum on the loan.

(b) Settlement scheme

This is a scheme intended for people of the lowest income

group in the state. This being a state sponsored scheme, no help is

available from the center. Under this scheme, each settler will be

given 5 cents of land in urban areas and 10 cents in rural area along

with a sum of Rs 250/ towards the cost of building materials and a

monetary grant of Rs 50. The settlers are expected to build their

houses according to type designs approved by the Government. The

selection of settlers will be made in consultation with a local

committee constituted for the purpose. The collectors have been

empowered to give sanction for this scheme. A sum of Rs 36.52 lakhs

is provided in the plan. The physical target is 5000 settlers.

(c) Poor housing scheme

The scheme is intended to provide houses and house sites to

agricultural labourers, fishermen, municipal menials, scavengers,

sweepers and other labourers. The scheme will be worked out

through co-operatives and the amount due to Government is to be

repaid in 25 equal annual installments. The amount expended will be

treated as interest-free loans. Each occupant member will get the

ownership of the house after all the dues to Government are paid. A

sum of Rs20.80 lakhs has been provided for this scheme. The

physical target set was 1000 houses.

106

(d) Co-operative Housing scheme

The Housing schemes on co-operative basis are purely loan

schemes and they consist of Urban Housing schemes and Rural

Housing Schemes. The Urban housing societies obtain loans from the

Government up to 4 times the paid up share capital of the applicant

subject to a maximum of Rs 10000/- per house. The loans are

generally repayable within a period of 20 years at 41/2 % interest

rate. Usually, the societies charge an additional interest of 1% on the

members towards establishment charges. The maximum limit of

Government loan to members of rural housing societies is limited to

Rs 5000 per house. The total plan provision for cooperative Housing

schemes is Rs 8.20 lakhs.

(e) Housing for Employees of Local Bodies drawing Rs 100 or

less per month:-

The object of the scheme is to provide houses for the

employees of the Local Bodies whose monthly income is Rs 100 or

less by advancing loans to the local Bodies. Under the scheme a

Local Body will get a loan equal to 80% of the cost of construction of

a house including the cost of site subject to a maximum of

Rs 2800 per year. The balance 20% has to be met by the Local Body

concerned.

3. Plantation Labour Housing Scheme

The scheme contemplates assistance to small planters for the

construction of tenements for their resident workers. Loans will be

granted by the state Government to planters deserving such

107

assist ance for construction of residential houses for their resident

plantations workers governed by the Plantations Labour Act 1951.

Whether a planter deserves assistance or not will be determined by

examination of the planter’s financial position, building programme

in land and other such factors. But ordinarily planters possessing

plantations below 500 acres only will be considered as “small

planters” deserving help under this scheme.

Government owned plantations are not entitled to assistance

under this scheme. The state Government will advance loans at the

rate of interest to be decided by Government from time to time

recoverable in 30 equated annual installments. The loan assistance by

the Government will not exceed 80% of the actual cost of the

construction of the houses (exclusive of the cost of land and its

development which will not be taken in to account for the purpose)

subject to a maximum of Rs1600 per house. The employers will have

to raise at least 20% of finance themselves (in addition to the cost of

land and its development). There is no objection in the houses being

built by the employers at a higher cost. The assistance from the state

will however be limited to the maximum of Rs 1600 per house. The

houses proposed to be constructed under this scheme are only one

room tenements. The plan provision for the scheme was Rs 10.00

lakh.

4. Slum Clearance Scheme

This scheme was introduced by the Government of India in

1956.The scheme envisaged the grant of loans and grants to

municipalities and municipal corporations for the clearance and

108

improvement of slum areas. The pattern of assistance to the state is

25% of the cost as subsidy and 50% as loan and the state Government

is to meet the balance 25% as matching subsidy. The financial target

of the scheme is Rs 14.32 lakh.

5. Village Housing Project Scheme.

This scheme was sponsored by the Government of India in

1958.According to the scheme the Government of India will advance

loans to state Governments at the usual rate of interest recoverable in

20 equated annual instalments. The above loan assistance is limited to

50% of the estimated cost of construction of a house (excluding cost

of land) subject to a maximum of Rs1500.The loans received from

the Government of India have to be used for granting of loans to

residents of selected villages or to co-operatives of such persons for

building houses on “an aided self –help basis” subject to the

limitation of 50% of the estimated cost of construction.

A total amount of Rs 206.53 lakh is planned to be spent under

the Second five year plan on “housing” But only Rs 157.70 lakhs was

spent on these schemes (Third Five Year Plan, 1961).

The efforts made during the first two plans to tackle the

problem of housing touched only its fringe.The growth of the

population particularly the urban populations, the impact of

industrialization and economic development on the concentration of

population have contributed to the complexity of the housing

problem.It is felt that under the third plan, the need for co-ordination

of all the agencies concerned, whether public, co-operative or private

109

is greater and that the entire housing programme should be so

oriented that it serves specially the requirements of the low income

groups of the community.

4.2.3 Housing Schemes under the Third Plan

The Housing Scheme for weaker sections was introduced

during the third plan period. Five housing schemes of the second plan

are continued in the third plan. Middle Income Group Housing was

introduced by the government of India in 1959.The states rules on the

scheme were issued in 1961. The beneficiaries of the scheme should

be with an annual income between the Rs 7200 and Rs18000 (Facts

and figures on Housing Kerala and All India 1983) amount of loan to

be granted for the construction of a house shall not exceed 80% of the

estimated cost of the house including the cost of developed land,

subject to a maximum of Rs25000. The loan is repayable in 300

monthly instalments.The scheme was mainly financed from L.I.C

loan allotted to the state for Housing schemes.

Third plan target for housing is depicted in the table 4.5.An

amount of Rs 315 lakhs was set apart for the different programmes of

the third plan.

110

Table 4.5

Third Plan Targets for Housing

SL.No Name of scheme Financial targets (Rs in lakhs)

1 Subsidized Industrial Housing 25

2

3

4

5

Low Income Group Housing Scheme

Settlement scheme

Co-operative Housing

Low Income Group Housing

Housing scheme for employees of Local bodies

265

6 Plantation Labour Housing 10.00

Total - Housing 300

7 Slum clearance 15

Total 315.00

Source Govt of kerala. SPB. Third Five year plan Part II. 1961-66 TVM.

A sum of Rs 182.27 lakhs was spent for Housing Schemes

under the state sector. The short fall in expenditure was mainly due to

limited budget allotments made for the schemes every year. In respect

of the centrally sponsored schemes, a sum of Rs 54.86 lakhs was

spent during the period. The Subsidized Industrial Housing was

implemented in Thrissur, Ernakulum, Kozhikode and Cannanore

districts and 390 tenements were constructed under this scheme

111

during this plan period. The Low Income Group Housing scheme

continued to be popular, and during this period 1856 houses were

constructed against a target of 1750 houses. In respect of the

settlement scheme 1627 tenements could be constructed.

Apart from granting loans for the construction of houses in

villages selected for the implementation of the Village Housing

Scheme, separate rules were evolved for the acquisition of land for

providing house sites to landless agricultural workers, and for the

provision of common amenities. Under this scheme 1004 houses

were constructed and 315 houses under co-operative Housing

scheme. It was during this plan period, that slum clearance was taken

up as centrally sponsored scheme.

4.2.4 Housing Schemes under the Fourth plan.

During the Fourth plan the schemes already in operation were

continued and fresh schemes are implemented. The scheme of the

Fourth plan and outlay are shown in the table 4.6. The different

schemes of the plan are as follows:

1. Subsided Industrial Housing scheme:- The scheme contemplates

financial assistance by way of grants and loans to statutory housing

boards, municipalities, co-operative societies of eligible workers and

employers and also to provide houses to the industrial workers.

2. Housing for Agricultural labourers:- The scheme is intended to

give financial assistance to poor agricultural labourers for the

acquisition of land for constructing houses of their own and also for

the provision of civic amenities.

112

3. Settlement of landless agricultural labourers in Government

porambokes:-The schemes envisages settlement of landless

agricul tural families on available Government poramboke lands.

Under the scheme, a family will get a maximum of 4 acres of

Government land on assignment with a financial assistance of Rs

1000 for reclamation of land and initial settlement expenses (Fourth

Five Year Plan 1969-74).

4 Housing schemes financed from LIC funds :-

a. Low Income Group Housing scheme- The object of the scheme

is to assist people in the low–income group by way of long

term loans to construct houses of their own.

b Village Housing Project - This is a scheme evolved by the

Government of India for developing the rural areas. According

to this scheme financial assistance is provided to the residents

of selected villages for house construction. Priority will be

given to the landless agricultural labourers.

c. Middle Income Group Housing scheme- The scheme is

intended to give loans to individuals whose income is between

Rs7201 to Rs15000. The maximum loan admissible is

Rs 25000 per house. Loans are also granted to co-operative

Housing societies and City Improvement Trust.

d. Rental Housing scheme -Tenements will be constructed by the

State Government for providing houses to the economically

weaker sections of the community namely to persons whose

annual income does not exceed Rs 3000.

113

e. Land Acquisition and Development- This scheme is intended to

help to solve the problem of housing and slum clearance by the

provision of loan finance to state Government for large scale

acquisition and development of land in selected places.

5. Plantation Labour Housing scheme. Provision is included in the

fourth plan to complete the spillover work (uncompleted houses)

relating to this scheme.

6. Poor Housing scheme. The scheme is intended to provide houses

and house –sites to the poor, houseless and landless people by giving

them interest-free long term loans, repayable within 25 years.

Provision is made in the plan to take up the spill over works and for

the rehabilitation of Kudikidappu tenants from the lands acquired for

the ship building yard at Cochin.

7. Housing scheme for Employees of local bodies. The scheme

contemplates the issue of loans by the government to local bodies for

construction of houses for their low paid staff.

8. Co-operative Housing Scheme. The objective of this scheme is to

provide loans to the Urban and Rural co-operative societies for

construction of houses in the urban and rural areas.

9. Housing scheme for weaker sections – Financial assistance will be

given by the Government for construction of houses to the weaker

sections of the community.

10.Housing Board–The Housing Board through which the

expenditure for the various housing schemes will be channeled would

114

be able to solve most of the existing bottlenecks in the

implementation of the various housing schemes.

In addition to these schemes One Lakh Housing Scheme was

implemented in 1972 by the Government of Kerala popularly known

as Laksham Veedu scheme. It was designed to provide permanent

dwellings for the landless agricultural labour households who had not

received homesteads under the Kerala Agrarian Relations Act

(George and Abu, 2005).The Government implemented the scheme

with generous support from voluntary organizations. This programme

implemented with the participation of local inhabitants, political

parties and social and cultural organizations became popular and

kindled desire in the hearts of all the houseless poor to become house

owners. It aimed at constructing 100 houses in every panchayat of the

state. Though the initial plan was to construct one lakh houses, nearly

ninety thousand houses were built throughout the state. Thus the

scheme actually enabled many homeless poor to achieve their dream

to become house owners.

Each dwelling was to have an area of 250 square feet, divided

in to three rooms-kitchen, bed room and a larger ‘multipurpose

‘room. As for construction materials, the basement and foundation

were to be of random rubble in mud mortar, the floor was to be

cement topping on a consolidated general base, the walls were to be

of sun-dried brick inter-spaced between burnt-brick columns and the

roof was to be of tile set on wood procured from state forests.

The scheme envisaged the construction of 96000 dwellings to

be allotted to families selected on the basis of lots drawn in each

115

panchayat simultaneously in all districts. Each allottee was to pay

Rs110 in 11 equal installments. This payment, which amounted to a

little over 9% of the estimated construction cost (at 1971 prices) of

Rs 1250 per dwelling (inclusive of the value of the items to be

supplied free namely unskilled labour, timber, cement and tiles) was

intended to give the beneficiaries a sense of participation in the

scheme without imposing a heavy financial burden on them. Slightly

over one half of the construction costs of the scheme were to be

financed through voluntary public donations and payments from

allottees.The remainder of the cost was to be covered by the state

Government (which was to supply tiles, timber and cement free to

each panchayat) and through voluntary donation of (unskilled)

labour.

The scheme was to be handled through the existing

administrative machinery without any addition of personnel. The

panchayat committee had the responsibility of arranging for the

procurement of bricks and labour and the actual construction of the

dwellings; the district collectors had the responsibility of arranging

for the supply of cement, tiles and timber to the panchayats, while at

the state level, a special secretary to the government was given an

overall charge of the scheme.

116

Table 4.6

Scheme wise details of Fourth plan Outlay on Housing 1969-74

(Rs in lakhs)

SL No Name of the scheme state plan outlay

central sector outlay

1 subsided industrial housing scheme 10.00 - 2 Housing for agricultural labourers 20.00 - 3 Settlement of landless agricultural

labourersin Government porambokes 30.00 -

4

Housing schemes financed from L.I.C funds:

a.Low Income Group House b. village housing project scheme c.Middle Income Group housing scheme d.Rental Housing scheme e.Land Acquisition and Development

50.00 25.00

41.50

10.00 20.00

- - - - -

5 Plantation Labour Housing scheme 5.00 - 6 Poor housing scheme 5.00 - 7 Housing scheme for employees of

local bodies .50 23.00

8 Co-operative housing scheme 5.00 - 9 Housing scheme for weaker sections

of the community 5.00 -

10 Housing Board 3.00 - Total 230.00 23.00

Source: Govt of Kerala , Fourth plan 1969-74. TVM

117

The table 4.7 gives the district –wise details of the number of

houses under the Laksham veedu scheme. Two models of houses

were constructed under the scheme namely single houses and Duplex

houses. Single houses were meant for a single family, while Duplex

houses were meant for two families. 90217 homes (consisting of

57599 single houses and 32618 duplex houses) were built all across

Kerala.

Table 4.7 Houses under the Laksham Veedu Scheme in each district

SL.No District Single houses

Duplex houses

Total no. of houses

percent

1 Thiruvananthapuram 9845 4256 14101 15.63

2 Kollam 1629 1994 3623 4.02

3 Pathanamthitta 3821 2348 6169 6.83

4 Alappuzha 1485 650 2135 2.37

5 Kottayam 2268 2232 4500 4.98

6 Idukki 1830 795 2625 2.91

7 Ernakulam 9614 3358 12972 14.38

8 Thrissur 4725 4368 9093 10.08

9 Palakkad 2211 1379 3590 3.98

10 Malappuram 1287 1538 2825 3.13

11 Kozhikode 3160 2920 6080 6.74

12 Waynad 5875 1763 7638 8.47

13 Kannur 3110 2688 5798 6.43

14 Kasargod 6739 2329 9068 10.05

Total 57599 32618 90217 100.00

Source: Department of Housing 1970

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The highest number of house were built in Thiruvananthapuram

district (15.63%) followed by Ernakulum (14.38%),Thrissur

(10.08%) and Kasargod (10.05%).The least number of houses were

built in Alappuzha district (2.37%). There is the need for renovating

the houses constructed under this scheme since the present condition

of these houses are unsatisfactory.

This scheme was as such discontinued later in 1977 mainly

because the Government decided to evolve new schemes to the

benefit of more needy people. In the Fourth plan, even though the

state sector outlay for housing was only Rs 230 lakhs,the actual

expenditure had gone up to Rs 463.34 lakh (Fifth Five Year

Plan,1978)

4.2.5 Housing Schemes under the Fifth plan

In the fifth plan an amount of Rs 19.14 crores was set apart for

the implementation of the various housing programmes.The schemes

envisaged in the fifth plan were aimed at improving the housing

conditions of the rural poor especially the landless agricultural

labourers and other weaker sections of the community. Due emphasis

was given in the plan for the provision of housing facilities to low

and middle income groups also. Different housing schemes of the

fifth plan and outlay on these schemes are depicted in the table 4.8.

1. Minimum Needs programme which include (a) sites and service

scheme and (b) Grant for co-operative Housing scheme for

economically weaker sections were implemented during this plan

period. (a)Sites and Service scheme developed plots in small and

119

medium colonies provided with access roads, drainage, and

individual sanitary latrines, drinking water, schools, health clinics and

work centre’s will be distributed to the landless families. Excess land

taken over by Government under the Land Reform Act can be

utilized for this scheme. The emphasis will be to equip such colonies

with basic civic amenities, in addition to the distribution of house

sites.

(b) Grant for Co-operative Housing Scheme-The Co-operative sector

and the Housing Board have jointly launched this housing scheme for

the economically weaker sections in the rural areas. The bulk of the

finance comes as loan from Housing and Urban Development

Corporation (HUDCO) and Co-operative societies. The Government

gives a grant of Rs 500 per house. Housing schemes like Low Income

Group Housing, Middle Income Group Housing scheme and Village

Housing Project are continued in the fifth plan period.

2. The Scheme for making structural and Environmental

Improvement to Existing Houses was implemented during this period.

This is meant for helping families to improve the structural and

environmental conditions of their existing sub –standard houses.

Under this scheme loan assistance will be given to change the roof,

(from perishable to durable) to provide additional accommodation

and to improve sanitary facilities such as bath, closet and water

supply. The scheme will be implemented through local bodies.

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Table 4.8

Housing –Scheme wise Outlay during Fifth plan

Source: Draft Fifth Five year plan Vol.111 1978-83, TVM.

SL. No Name of the scheme

State plan Outlay

(Rs lakhs) 1.

Minimum Needs Programme a. Sites and services scheme to rural workers b.Grant for Co-operative Housing scheme for economically weaker sections

Sub-total

1500.00 1250.00 2750.00

2. Share capital contribution to housing cooperative 500.00 3. Public borrowing by the housing board 1000.00 4. Integrated Subsidized Housing Scheme for

industrial workers and economically weaker section

100.00

5. Housing scheme for employees of state government and local bodies

1435.00

6 Rental Housing Scheme for employees of state government and local bodies

750.00

7. Special Rental Housing Scheme for Police and Excise

600.00

8. Low income group housing scheme 500.00 9. Middle income group housing scheme 400.00

10. Village Housing Project 600.00 11. Scheme for making structural and environmental

improvements to existing houses 150.00

12. Research in low cost housing and production of building materials

50.00

13. Colonisation schemes 26.00 14. Tribal Area Sub Plan 50.00 15. Housing Scheme in Kasargod 10.00

Grand Total 8921.00

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3. Colonization scheme of this plan envisages the twin programmes of

developing large underdeveloped tracts of Wynad area and

rehabilitation of ex servicemen, aboriginals and landless inhabitants

of erstwhile Malabar region. The scheme of Tribal Area Sub plan is

meant for constructing houses to every tribal family included in the

sub- plan area, on a phased manner. The Housing Scheme of

Kasargode envisages the development of housing facilities in the

backward taluks of Kasargode and Hosdur.An outlay of Rs 50 crores

is provided in this plan for encouraging research in low cost Housing

and to construct experimental houses.

4.2.6 Housing Schemes under the Sixth Plan

During the sixth five year (1980-85) the existing housing

schemes were continued. Low Income Group Housing scheme of

sixth plan envisages financial assistance by way of loans for house

construction to persons whose annual income does not exceed

Rs7200 and who have no land of their own. Loans are advanced at

8% of interest, repayable in 360 equal installment or 30 equal annual

instalments. The maximum loan admissible is Rs14000. The outlay of

Rs 200 lakhs is allotted for continuing the scheme. The Middle

Income Group Housing scheme envisages loans for house

construction at 8% interest for persons who have no land of their own

and whose annual income falls between 7201 and 18000. The

maximum loan admissible is Rs 27500.The loan is repayable in 300

equal monthly instalments or 25 equal annual instalments. The outlay

of Rs145 lakhs is allotted for continuing the scheme.

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Minimum Needs Programme of sixth plan includes (a) provision

of house sites to rural areas (b)construction of Huts/Houses for Rural

workers (c) settlement of Agricultural Labourers in Government

Puramboke Land and (d)Assistance to Kerala state Development

corporation for SC and ST.

The first scheme is implemented in selected panchayats and 50%

of the house sites available in the panchayat area is earmarked for

allotment to landless agricultural workers belonging to SC and ST.

An outlay of Rs 425 lakhs is proposed for continuing the schemes

during the sixth plan period. Under the second scheme financial

assistance (Rs 1000) is provided for the construction of houses in

house sites already allotted to landless workers in rural areas. The

financial assistance is meant for the purchase of timber and tiles for

the construction of houses. The third scheme provides for financial

assistance for house construction at the rate of Rs 1500 (grant Rs

1100 and loan Rs 400) to assignees of Government poramboke lands

and to agricultural workers owning land not exceeding 2 acres. Fifty

percent of such financial assistance is reserved to members of SC and

ST.

In the fourth scheme, the corporation has taken up in 1978-79 a

housing scheme for the construction 10000 low cost subsidized

houses at a unit cost of Rs 3000 (1500 loan and 1500 grant).During

1980-85 the corporation proposes to take up the following subsidized

low cost housing scheme: (a) Construction of 10000 Low cost houses

at a unit cost of Rs 3700.The scheme is proposed to be taken up with

loan assistance from the HUDCO and grants from Government.

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Each housing unit will cost Rs.3700 (Rs2000 as loan and Rs.1700 as

grant). (b) Construction of one lakh subsidized low cost houses at a

Unit cost of Rs5000. The scheme envisages construction of one lakh

low cost houses during 1981-82 to 1984-85 at the rate 25000 houses

per year. Each house will cost Rs.5000 (Rs2500 as loan and Rs 2500

as grant). (c) Structural Improvement to Existing Houses. The scheme

envisages financial assistance for providing strong roofs and tiles to

16600 existing house at the rate of Rs 2500 per house (Rs1500 as

loan and Rs 1000 as grant).The scheme ‘Making structural and

Environmental Changes to Existing Houses is redesignated as “Up

gradation of marginal settlements”. The scheme is meant for

providing financial assistance to families for the up gradation of their

existing sub-standard houses. An outlay of Rs 50 lakhs is earmarked

for continuing the scheme. The different schemes and outlay on these

schemes are shown in the table 4.9.

Table 4.9

Housing – Scheme wise Outlay –Sixth plan (1980-85)

SL. No. Name of the Scheme/ Project Outlay (in

lakhs) 1. Low income group housing scheme 200.00 2. Middle income group housing scheme 145.00 3. Rental housing scheme for government and local

bodies employees600.00

4. Government residential quarters 100.00 Sub-total (1 to 4) 1045.00 Minimum Needs Programme:

5. Provision of house sites for landless workers in rural areas

425.00

6. Construction of huts/houses for rural workers 350.00

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SL. No. Name of the Scheme/ Project Outlay (in

lakhs) 7. Settlement of agricultural labourers in Govt.

Poramboke lands25.00

8. Assistance to Kerala State Development Corporation for SC/ST

400.00

Sub-total MNP (5 to 8) 1200.00 9. Kerala State Housing Board 900.00* Sub-total 9 900.00

10. Slum Clearance and Rehousing 50.00 11. Upgradation of Marginal Settlements 50.00

Sub- total (10 to 11) 100.00 12. Police Housing Scheme 150.00 13. Government Servants/Policemens’ housing co-

operative socities 80.00

Sub-total (12-13) 230.00 14. House building advance to govt.servants 600.00

Other schemes: 15. Land acquisition and development 5.00 16. Housing scheme for industrial workers 16.00 17. Kerala co-operative housing federation 20.00}+

100.00} 18. Kerala School Teaching and Non Teaching Staff

Welfare Society for housing 100.00

19. Sponsored Research in Low Cost housing 5.00 20. Housing Scheme for Plantation Workers 8.00 21. Village Housing Project 80.00 22. Co-operative Housing Scheme for Economically

Weaker Section 300.00

23. Housing Scheme for Kasargod 10.00 24. Tribal Area Sub Plan 50.00 25. Colonization Scheme in Attappady 30.00 26. Settlement Scheme to Assignees of Kayal Lands-

Chempu Kayal Reclamation scheme1.00

Sub-Total – Other Schemes 725.00 Total Housing 4800.00

*Market Borrowing + Rs. 20 Lakhs for share capital contribution and Rs. 100 lakhs for market borrowing Source: Governemnt of Kerala SPB Sixth Five Year Plan 1980-85

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4.2.7 Housing Schemes under the Seventh plan

Considering the magnitude of the housing problem in the state,

the amount spent in the earlier plans has fallen short of the

requirements. Therefore an outlay of Rs 100 crores is proposed for

the various housing schemes in the seventh plan (Seventh Five Year

Plan1985). This outlay is inclusive of Rs 10 crores, for the World

Bank Project. A brief description of the housing schemes in the

seventh plan is given below. Housing schemes for Economically

Weaker sections included (a) Co-operative Housing Scheme for

Economically Weaker Sections, (b) Subsidized Aided Self Help

Housing Scheme for the Economically Weaker Sections with the Co-

operation of Voluntary Agencies (SASH) (c) Occupation Linked

Housing Scheme for Economically Weaker sections by Public

Agencies, (d) Skeletal Houses Scheme, (e) Kerala state Development

Corporation for SC/ST-Financial assistance for Housing and (f)

Tribal Area Sub plan.

a. Co-operative Housing Scheme for Economically

Weaker Sections-Any person whose annual income is less than

Rs4200 and who owns a house sites, but does not have a house of his

own is eligible for assistance under this scheme. The composition of

the pattern of assistance is HUDCO loan of Rs 3000, Co-operative

Bank loan of Rs800, Government grant of Rs500 and the beneficiary

share of Rs1700 for a house. The estimated cost of a house is Rs

6000. It is proposed to construct 80,000 houses under this scheme and

for this a provision of Rs 400 lakhs is earmarked in the plan.

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(b)Subsidized Aided Self Help Housing Scheme for the

Economically Weaker Sections with the Co-operation of

Voluntary Agencies (SASH). This scheme was launched in

1983-84 for the construction of 25000 houses and subsequently

incorporated in the sixth plan. This scheme has evoked wide response

from all sections of society. It is proposed to continue the scheme in

the seventh plan. According to this scheme each beneficiary will be

given a loan of Rs 3000 by the Housing Board, a grant of Rs1000 by

the state Government, and a contribution of Rs1000 by voluntary

agencies for the construction of a house costing not less than Rs

6000. The balance amount will have to be met by the beneficiaries

themselves by way of cash, labour, and materials. The beneficiaries

should have their own land measuring at least 60 m2, and have to

construct houses based on approved plans and specifications. The

voluntary agencies have to sponsor at least ten beneficiaries at a time,

and offer their contribution in advance. A physical target of

constructing 40,000 houses at an overall cost of Rs 2400 lakhs is

proposed for the seventh plan period. An amount of Rs 400 lakhs is

provided in the plan as Government share towards the subsidy

portion of the scheme.

(c) Occupation Linked Housing Scheme for Economically

Weaker sections by Public Agencies of seventh plan is to benefit the

workers engaged in the traditional industries of workers. A large

segment of the handloom workers, coir workers, Palmyra climbers

and handicrafts workers come within the purview of economically

weaker sections. There are separate public agencies devoted solely

for the welfare of these target groups and the scheme is expected to

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be implemented through these agencies and with loans made

available by HUDCO, either direct, through the Kerala State Housing

Board.The scheme is to be implemented on an aided self help basis.

The composition of the assistance will be a HUDCO loan of Rs3500,

a Government grant of Rs 1500 and a beneficiary share of Rs1000 for

constructing a house costing not less than Rs 6000. An amount of

Rs500 lakhs is earmarked as the grant portion of the state

Government for the construction of 33000 houses during the Seventh

plan period. The 1985-86 state sector outlay will enable construction

of 3300 houses of this category. The outlay for 1985-86 is Rs50

lakhs.

(d) Skeletal Housing Scheme is to provide to those

belonging to the E.W.S.category the shell or skeleton of the houses

with the plinth, pillars, and roof, in addition to drinking water and

sanitary latrines.The beneficiaries should undertake internal and

external improvements and expansion as and when they find it

possible to do so with their own resources. The idea is to provide

them with at least a shelter. Each house will cost about Rs 4000 of

which Rs 2000 will be the loan made available from HUDCO.The

Government will provide a subsidy of Rs1500 per house and the

remaining Rs 500 has to be borne by the beneficiary in the form of

cash or labour. The scheme will be confined to urban areas or urban

agglomerations where squatter settlements exist. The physical target

is 20000 skeletal houses at a total estimated cost of Rs 8crores.The

commitment on the part of the state Government in the seventh plan

period will be Rs300 lakhs.

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(e) Kerala state Development Corporation for SC/ST-

Financial assistance for Housing- The Corporation has drawn up a

housing scheme for the construction of 10,000 houses during the

seventh plan period. The amount of Rs 600 lakhs is provided for

giving financial assistance for the implementation of the scheme in

the form of subsidy, interest on loans, and for administrative and

supervision charges during the seventh plan period.

(f). Tribal Area Sub plan- Under this scheme preference

will be given to the construction of houses in the five tribal project

areas of Attapady, Mananthody, Nilambur, Idukki and Punaloor.

Housing was a major component in the tribal sub plan implemented

in these five tribal project areas of the state with hundred percent

Central assistance. But subsequently housing was not considered as

an economic activity and the central Government declined to give

any financial assistance for the housing schemes in the tribal project

areas since 1983-84.

Low Income Group Housing scheme was quite popular in the

initial years. But subsequently with the introduction of newer

schemes, which were found to be better from the point of view of

procedure, availability, loan amount and interest rate, the scheme

failed to evoke adequate response. Hence as a step to discontinue the

scheme, a lump sum provision of Rs 20 lakhs is earmarked to honour

the prior commitments already made under the scheme. Kerala State

Housing Board, (KSHB) a statutory body constituted in 1971, is

implementing the public housing schemes, making use of the

resources raised from financial institutions.The quantum of public

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borrowing allotted to the Housing board was increased to

Rs 1400 lakhs in the seventh plan. Kerala Co-operative Housing

Federation, registered in 1970, is engaged in raising funds from

financial institutions, and distributing the same to the 205 affiliated

primary housing societies, to be advanced in turn to their individual

members for the construction of houses. The Federation has a

programme to assist the construction of 20000 houses within the

seventh plan period at an estimated loan commitment of Rs 6000

lakhs. An outlay of Rs 1000 lakhs was provided for continuing the

scheme of House sites to Landless Workers in Rural areas during the

seventh plan period. The average cost per house site on development

of infrastructure facilities would come to around Rs2000.It is targeted

to distribute 50,000 house sites within the seventh plan period.

The content of the scheme “Construction of Huts /Houses to

Rural Workers” will be modified in the seventh plan so as to bring

this category of applicants within the purview of the “subsidized

aided self help housing scheme for the economically weaker sections

with the co-operation of voluntary agencies”. Such a change will be

advantageous to the beneficiaries, besides facilitating the

Govern ment to cater to the housing needs of about 40000 persons

with the provision of Rs 400 lakhs earmarked for the scheme in the

seventh plan. Kerala State Housing Board, a statutory body

constituted in 1971, is implementing public housing schemes, making

use of the resources raised from financial institutions. The Board has

several schemes which are important from the point of view of

serving the housing needs of the community, but which do not

qualify for assistance by HUDCO, due to the operation of their rigid

130

norms, which cannot be satisfied in certain cases owing to the

conditions prevailing in our state, like high land, labour and material

cost. Hence, sources of finance other than HUDCO assume very great

importance. In recognition of this fact, and to even out the

fluctuations in the receipt of institutional finance, the quantum of

public borrowing allotted to the Housing Board is increased to

Rs1400 lakhs in the seventh plan.

Kerala Co-operative Housing Federation, registered in 1970,

is engaged in raising funds from financial institutions, and

distributing the same to the 205 affiliated primary housing societies,

to be advanced in turn to their individual members for the

construction of houses. The Federation has a programme to assist the

construction of 20000 houses within the seventh plan period at an

estimated loan commitment of Rs 6000 lakhs.

The State Government has formulated a project for World

Bank assistance in housing and urban development of Kerala. The

project has been framed to support all-round improvements in the

three major regions of Trivandrum, Cochin and Calicut. The project

envisages the development of about 37,000 serviced residential and

small business plots, upgrading the slum areas benefiting 29,000

households, besides improving water supply, sewerage, sanitation,

drainage and urban transport. An amount of Rs 10 lakhs is provided

in the seventh plan for encouraging research in low cost housing and

constructing and demonstrating experimental houses. Expenditure on

Housing during the seventh plan (1985-90) was Rs.7167.94 lakhs

(Draft Eighth Plan, 1990).

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4.4.8 Housing Schemes under the Eighth plan

The new housing schemes of the Eighth plan are as follows:-

1. Shelter for Traditional Workers. The housing conditions of the

workers who are engaged in traditional industries like coir and

handlooms are in no way better than that of the beedi workers.

Although some welfare programmes are being implemented with a

view to raising their general living conditions; nothing substantial

was done to solve their housing problems. Therefore the state

Housing Board has formulated housing schemes for coir and

handloom workers on the basis of the directions from the Central and

the state Governments. This scheme is formulated along the lines of

the rehabilitation housing scheme and Rs100 lakhs is provided during

the eighth plan.

2. Nirmithi Kendras. The first Nirmithi Kendra in the

country was started in August 1987 in Quilon district as a pioneering

experiment to propagate the message of low cost housing. Since then

Nirmithi Kendras were started in all the 14 districts of the state.

These were started with the objective of developing an effective link

between the urban researcher in housing technique and the rural

builder. It seeks to bring the fruit of housing research from the

laboratory to local builders at the village level by exposing them to

the modern development in housing building technology. The

Kendras also aim at manufacturing standardized building materials at

reduced costs. This assumes added importance in the context of the

rapidly escalating prices of building materials. Nirmithi Kendras are

manufacturing on a mass scale, many building materials like rubble

132

filler blocks, hollow bricks,ferrocement rafters, water tanks and

smokeless chulas. Another important activity of the Kendra is to

impart training to masons and carpenters in innovation techniques.

An outlay of Rs100 lakhs is provided for the Nirmithi Kendra in the

Eighth plan for enabling them to develop and produce cheap building

materials on a large scale and to impart training in low cost building

technology to sufficient number of masons, carpenters and other

workers.

3. Maithri Housing scheme (Houses for Economically Weaker

Sections)-Housing Board started Maithri Housing scheme in1996.The

unit cost of a Maithri house is Rs 30,000 of which Rs9000 is

government subsidy, Rs19,000 HUDCO loan and Rs2000

beneficiary/voluntary contribution. Besides, an interest subsidy of 8%

has been committed by government. For the Maithri housing scheme,

the Kerala State Housing Board (KSHB) borrowed nearly Rs712

crores from HUDCO for giving loans for 3.75 lakh beneficiaries.The

Board extended loan assistance to 2.30 lakh beneficiaries.

The existing housing schemes were continued during the

Eighth plan. An outlay of Rs 500 lakhs is provided for the Rental

Housing scheme during the eighth plan period. Outlay earmarked for

the scheme ‘House sites to landless workers in rural areas’ was

Rs1200 lakhs. Out of this Rs 50 lakhs will be given to panchayats to

rehabilitate dwellers in puramboke lands. This scheme is

implemented by the Board of Revenue through District collectors.

Under the scheme the panchayats are entrusted with the task of

selecting and purchasing suitable lands after getting the necessary

133

sanction from the district collector. The district collector will have to

verify the suitability and reasonableness of the price of the land

selected before the sanction is accorded for the purchase. The land so

purchased in the name of the government is developed by providing

facilities like roads, drainage and drinking water. The objective of

this scheme is to provide house sites to 15000 families during the

eighth plan at the rate of 3000 house sites every year. A welcome

feature of this scheme is that about 50% of beneficiaries are from the

SC and ST. During the eighth plan period, 10460 house sites were

distributed. It has been estimated that there are 10 lakh landless

families in the state. To complete the distribution of already acquired

plots an outlay of Rs 80 lakhs has been provided in the state sector

during 1997-98 (Draft Ninth Five Year Plan 1997-2002 and Annual

Plan1997-98).

In the eighth plan Rs 100 lakhs is provided for the scheme

‘construction of huts/ houses to rural workers’. Under the’ Housing

schemes in Tribal areas’ Rs 9000 is given as grant for a tiled house

and Rs12000 for RCC house. An additional 20 percent of the grant is

also given for houses constructed in difficult and inaccessible

areas.The outlay proposed for the scheme during eighth plan is Rs

200 lakhs. Government has approved the sixth housing scheme

during 1988 for construction of 10,000 houses. In this scheme, the

unit cost comes to Rs8500,of which Rs4500 is loan from HUDCO,

Rs2500 subsidy from state government and Rs1500 beneficiary’s

contribution. An outlay of Rs400 lakhs is proposed for the

Corporation during eighth plan period as Government grant towards

subsidy administration and supervision charges and interest on loan

134

from HUDCO. Of this Rs 40 lakhs is exclusively earmarked for

giving assistance to people belonging to ST.

Rehabilitation Housing scheme is one of the major housing

programmes launched by the Government with the objective of

rehabilitating the ‘economically weaker sections’ in rural areas. The

scheme is designed in such a way as to tap the available institutional

finance for the maximum extent possible, especially from such

agencies as HUDCO, consortium of Banks and Housing

Development Finance Corporation (HDFC).The scheme is

implemented through Revenue Authorities. The target was 1, 50,000

houses under 1st and 2nd phases of the scheme.

The first and second phases are almost completed. The third

phase of the programme has already been launched and will be

implemented through the Panchayats, Municipalities, Townships and

Municipal Corporations. It is believed that the participation of local

bodies in the implementation of the programme will make it more

cost effective and time bound.

The estimated cost of construction per house is Rs9000.Of

this amount of Rs7500 will be given as loan recoverable in 180 equal

monthly instalments and Rs1500 will be given as subsidy. Out of this

subsidy of Rs1500 per house, the government will provide Rs750 and

the balance will have to be met by the local bodies. To meet the

government portion of subsidy, Rs 1700 lakhs is provided during the

eighth plan period. This outlay will be sufficient to meet the

government share of the subsidy for the construction of 2.25 lakh

houses.

135

Housing schemes for Beedi workers envisages financial

assistance to the beedi workers at the rate of Rs 8500 for the

construction of a house. Of this Rs6500 will be given as loan and the

balance Rs 2000 will be given as subsidy. In the eighth plan Rs50

lakhs is provided for the scheme with a view to extending house

construction assistance to 2500 beedi workers.The total demand for

construction of houses during the period 1991-2000 is approximately

16 lakhs which means that 1.6 lakh new houses are to be constructed

every year if the housing problem is to be solved completely by the

year 2000A.D. Out of this 16 lakhs 25% (4 lakhs) will have to be

constructed in urban areas and the remaining 12 lakhs in rural areas.

The total expenditure (Rs 11737.48 lakhs) on housing during eighth

plan was much below the total outlay Rs 14865 lakhs (Report of the

task force on housing 1997-2002)

4.2.9 Housing Schemes under the Ninth plan

During the ninth plan the following programmes are envisaged

to provide house for all by taking in to account the up gradation of

kutcha units in to semi pucca and pucca units for which an outlay of

Rs100.48 crores is proposed (Ninth Five Year Plan, 1997).For the

scheme ‘provision of House sites to the landless poor’ an outlay of Rs

80 lakhs has been provided in the state sector during 1997-98.It is

expected that the local bodies will spend about Rs100 crores during

the ninth five year plan. Since the scheme is fully transferred to local

bodies, there is no state sector provision from 1998-99 budget

onwards.

136

Kerala State Housing Board is implementing several public

housing schemes including EWS cash loan scheme, kairali housing

scheme and construction of housing complexes in panchayats. The

Board’s main source of finance is loan from HUDCO, HDFC and

other housing finance institutions.Market borrowing by issuing bonds

is an important source of finance to the Board. An outlay of Rs 20

crores is for the Housing Board during the Ninth five year plan which

will be met by market borrowing.

Kerala State Co-operative Housing Federation proposed to

assist construction of about 40,000 houses during the ninth plan five

year plan period through an outlay of Rs 11crores. During the ninth

five year plan, the Nirmithi Kendra proposes to impart training to

masons for implementing EWS (Maithri) housing scheme and to

produce low cost building materials. An outlay of Rs150 lakhs is

proposed for the 9th Five year plan.

1. Nirmithi National Institute for Habitat Management was set

in 1993 as a national institute of excellence in the field of housing

and habitat planning. The institute is conducting MS degree course in

habitat technology in collaboration with the Birla Institute of Science

and Technology. In addition to the academic course, the institute is

engaged in imparting training to engineers and architects. An outlay

of Rs150 lakhs is proposed for the ninth plan.

2. Economically Weaker Sections (Maithri) Housing Scheme-

The beneficiary under this scheme will be persons whose income per

month does not exceed Rs 1,800 and who do not have a habitable

house and who own at least one cent of land. The village officer will

137

receive the filled up applications from the beneficiaries with the

following documents a self attested location sketch of the land in

which the house is proposed to be constructed and the original title

deed of the land. As the scheme is fully transferred to local bodies, no

provision will be made for 1998-99. The local bodies will utilize

about Rs 450 crores for the construction of 5 lakh houses during the

9th plan period.

3. Training centers -It is envisaged to train village artisan, the

beneficiaries of EWS houses and other interested persons in the low

cost building technique as well as in the production of low cost

building materials. Through self help and mutual help the speedy

implementation of EWS (Maithri) Housing scheme could be

materialized. At the first step, experts from Nirmithi Kendras or other

locally available experts will impart the training. Once trained, people

should communicate such knowledge to others.A provision of

Rs5crores is made for the Ninth plan for organizing such programmes

through Nirmithi Kendras, panchayats and voluntary agencies

involved in cost effective building technology.As the scheme is fully

transferred to local bodies, an outlay of Rs10 lakhs is provided in the

state sector during 1997-98.There will be no provision from 1998-99

onwards.

4. Production and Marketing Centers.-One major bottleneck in

the introduction of cost effective technique is non availability of

building elements.To circumvent this,it is proposed to have

marketing centers of building materials in every panchayats and

municipality to procure and distribute such items. These centers

138

should be managed by the local bodies. As a first step, seed money

should be provided by the state so that later on, these centers could

become self sustaining. An outlay of Rs 30 lakhs is provided in the

state sector for 1997-98. The scheme is fully transferred to local

bodies. Therefore no outlay is to be provided in the state sector for

the ensuing years.

5. Renovation and Renewal of Economically Weaker Sections

(EWS) houses- Many of the EWS houses constructed long ago require

renovation. This should be done urgently in order to protect such

houses from total destruction. For implementing the scheme the

Board of Revenue has already initiated some works for which an

outlay of Rs 20 lakhs is provided for 1997-98 in the state sector. As

the scheme is to be fully implemented by the local bodies, no

provision is to be made during 1998-99.

During the 9th Five Year Plan, the houses constructed by the 20

housing agencies in Kerala (1997-98 to 2001-02) are shown in the

table 4.10 In Kerala, different agencies have assisted to construct

82082 houses in 2001-02excluding Local Self Governments. Out of

total houses, Housing Board assisted 40%, Rural Development

Department 24% and 15 % by Nationalized Scheduled banks and the

rest by other agencies. The spurt in housing activity since 1997-98 is

very evident from the fact all agencies together up to 1986

constructed 2.74 lakh houses (Economic Review 2003). During the

ten year period from 1986-87 to 1995-96, 577199 houses were

constructed /assisted in Kerala. But during 1997-98 to 2001 more

than 5 lakh houses were assisted.

139

Table 4.10

Houses Constructed by Various Agencies (1997- 98 to 2001-02)

Year Houses constructed (Numbers)

1997-98 99545

1998-99 106383

1999-2000 139768

2000-01 146439

2001-02 82082

Total 574217

Source: Economic Review.2002.

Since 1997-98, Local Self governments have been actively

involved in house construction for economically weaker sections.

Increase of subsidy per house from 9000 to 35000 in 1998 increased

the demand for housing assistance. During the Ninth Five year plan

(1997-2002) Local Self Governments(LSGs) assisted in the

construction of 5.71 lakh houses and in the repair of 1.86 lakh houses

as shown in the table 4.11.

140

Table 4.11

Houses constructed and repaired by Local Self Government (1997-2002)

Year Number of Houses constructed Houses repaired

1997-98 45521 46655

1998-99 50000 32513

1999-00 28478 40851

2000-01 158282 33965

2001-02 288301 32420

Total 570582 186404

Source: Economic Review. 2002 & 03

The District Panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam,

Alappuzha and Thrissur have been implementing Total Housing

Programmes with specific focus on EWS,with implementation

models through district co-operative banks, district Panchayat and

NGOS like Cost ford. The involvements of Community Based

Organizations (CBO) in housing solutions have also played a

supportive role..Total Housing programme in Thiruvananthapuram

district started in 1999-2000 targeted to construct 29872 homes in the

first phase.Unit cost of a house was Rs35000 of which loan assistance

was Rs 30,000.Total estimated cost of the project was

Rs 8961.6 lakhs in Thiruvananthapuram which was financed by

Kerala State Co-operative Bank.

141

Already 25011 houses have been completed and transferred and

4861 are under construction. In Kollam district, the target was to

construct 25,000 houses with Housing and Urban Development

Corporation‘s assistance and the total project cost was Rs 8750 lakhs.

The project started in 2000-01 is completed and all the 25000 houses

have been constructed and transferred to beneficiaries. Thus in two

years above 0.50 lakh houses have been constructed in Kollam and

Thiruvananthapuram district. The target in Thrissur is 12000 houses

and that in Ernakulam and Alappuzha are 9330 and 13000

respectively (Economic Review, 2003).

4.2.10 Housing Schemes under the Tenth plan

During the Tenth plan (2002-07) Rs 354 crore was envisaged

as outlay and Rs 291.40crore was the expenditure under ‘Housing’.

Out of this Rs 205.54 crore was for Maithri Housing scheme (EWS)

of the Kerala state Housing Board (Tenth Five Year Plan Mid Term

Appraisal 2007).The remaining expenditure was on schemes

undertaken by Kerala police Housing and Construction

Corporation,Nirmithi Kendra, Kerala state co-operative housing

Federation and public works department to build Government

residential quarters. During the first four years of the Tenth five year

plan period the public agencies provided assistance to construct 5.05

lakh houses.

Some of the major strategies envisaged in the Tenth plan are:

• Using the housing sector to generate more employment

and active skill upgradation

142

• Ensuring availability of developed plots and ensuring

dwelling units with accessibility to sanitation and water

supply

• Shift from subsidy based housing scheme to cost sharing

or cost recovery cum subsidy scheme

• Empowering local government and co-operative to

mobilize credit for social housing scheme

• Promote traditional architecture and skill and to protect

the cultural heritage while designing the houses.

In recent years the dominant government housing schemes for the

poor have been ‘Maithri’ supported by KSHB and Indira Awas

Yojana implemented by the Rural Development Department. Maithri

scheme was discontinued in 2001 since KSHB ran in to serious

financial problems mainly due to poor recovery of loans from

allottees, diversion of funds, wrong priorities and absences of

strategic planning. KSHB has undertaken another scheme for the

houseless poor, called ‘Suraksha’ started in 2005 with modest targets.

The scheme is to give financial assistance for the houseless EWS in

both urban and rural areas limiting the government assistance to the

vulnerable section under EWS group. Assistance will be given to

persons owning at least 2 cents of land to construct a house by

themselves.Total cost of a house is Rs 30,000, of which Rs9000

capital.subsidy, Rs2000 beneficiary/voluntary contribution and

Rs19000 construction loan..In case voluntary organizations are

associated, they shall provide the entire amount to the beneficiary and

143

build the structure up to roof level; and government subsidy shall be

disbursed as third instalment.

During the first two years of the tenth plan, no new major schemes

will be taken up by Kerala State Housing Board. An amount of

Rs2000 lakhs is set apart for tenth plan for KSHB’S schemes. During

the Tenth plan Rs300 crore is set apart for clearing the backlog of

subsidy. (Government sanctioned Rs138.50crores as subsidy during

the ninth plan but the Board disbursed Rs255 crores). Kerala State

Co-operative Housing Federation has targeted to assist construction

of 72405 houses during the tenth plan. For this, an amount of Rs 800

lakh is proposed during the tenth plan period.For the activities of

Nirmithi Kendra an outlay Rs 600 lakhs is proposed during the Tenth

plan period.

The different agencies/departments have provided assistance to

construct 6.21 lakh houses during the tenth plan period as shown in

the table 4.12.

Table 4.12

Houses Constructed by Various Agencies 2002-2007

Year No. of Houses constructed 2002-03 133228 2003-04 129564 2004-05 155349 2005-06 98869 2006-07 103696

Total 620706 Source: Economic review 2005 &2008

144

The present structure of public housing schemes appears to be

unsuitable to the needs of the rural and urban poor. Financial

assistance, both grants and loans, given to them is insufficient to

command inputs and technology from the market to construct a

liveable house with minimum essential facilities. Without supporting

the poor to empower themselves with entitlements for procuring

inputs from the market, it is unlikely that these schemes with the

present system of partial financial support will achieve desired

goals.What is needed is a habitat approach in which housing

assistance should be perceived as a means of improving the

livelihood conditions and self-dependence of the people.

The focus of planning for the housing sector should be to

provide sustainable houses for the poor and landless. This would

require the identification of land so that the landless are not left out of

the schemes and provision of an average of Rs.75000 for a minimal

house (Eleventh plan 2007).

4.2.11 Housing Schemes under the Eleventh plan

The Eleventh plan outlay of this sector is Rs 531.90 crores,

including a provision of Rs 300 crores for the flagship programme on

Housing.The new housing schemes taken up during the eleventh plan

are :-

• Flagship programme on EMS Housing scheme

• Innovative Housing Schemes

• Reconstruction of one lakh housing scheme

145

• Residential Flats for Economically Weaker Section in

Urban areas

• Laurie Baker Nirmithi Training and Research Institute

• Coastal Housing and Rehabilitation Programme (CHRP)

under Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme (TRP).

1.Flagship Programme on Housing –EMS Housing scheme:-

The flagship scheme on housing envisages co-coordinating all

the schemes and deriving a more realistic cost estimate of a house

with the objective of providing free, sustainable housing to the entire

poor household through the construction of new houses and the repair

of old houses. (detailed explanation of EMS Housing scheme is given

in the following chapter). The total cost of doing so, after taking in to

account the existing Central Sector schemes which have to be

accessed, has been estimated to be Rs100 crores from the side of the

state (including both the state government and LSGIs).

2. Innovative Housing Schemes:- Innovative projects adopting a

‘habitat’ approach to housing (taking in to account issues of spatial

planning, waste disposal, sanitation and water supply) using cost

effective technology will be initiated to promote sustainable housing

in the following years.The target group would be low income

households,reaching out to those sections which tend to get excluded

or only marginally included in large housing schemes.

3.Construction of Residential Flats for EWS in rural areas-‘Innovative

Housing Scheme’. The scheme was envisaged from 2008-09 to

146

provide housing facilities to the poor urban workers, who are being

increasingly displaced from the city limits and are forced to stay far

away from their work place. Housing would be in the nature of flats

in Government land with necessary infrastructure and community

facilities. A minimum of 1/3 of dwelling units will be reserved for

women workers who are single, deserted, and divorced/ widowed.

During 2009-10, Board has constructed 36 flats at Thrikkakkara in

Ernakulum District and 16 flats at Poojappura (I phase) in

Thiruvananthapuram District All units are completed and an amount

of 139 lakh has been spent for the scheme up to 30-9-2010.

For the construction of dwelling units in Government land at

Poojappura in Trivandrum District (II phase) and Kuttanalloor in

Trichur District an amount of Rs250 lakh is allocated during

2010-11 (Economic Review 2010).This set of flats to be constructed

at Poojappura will be entirely reserved for women headed

households. As per the reports from Housing Commissionerate, 52

dwelling units have been constructed under Innovative Housing

Scheme during 2010-11 up to 30-09-2010.

4. Reconstruction of One Lakh Housing Scheme (MN Laksham Veedu

Punarnirmana Padhathi):-The scheme is to reconstruct the

dilapidated houses constructed in 1972 under One Lakh Housing

Scheme. (detailed explanation in the following chapters). During the

Eleventh plan it is estimated that more than 60,000 houses need

reconstruction and an amount of Rs 30 crores was provided.

Rs 37 crores will be likely expenditure during 2007-10 targetting

reconstruction of 13550 houses. Out of this, reconstruction of 4103

147

houses has been done during two years of Eleventh plan utilizing an

amount of Rs11.58 crores (Eleventh plan Mid term Appraisal 2005)

5. Kerala state Nirmithi Kendra (KENSIK) ---Laurie Baker Nirmithi

Training and Research Institute:- During the Eleventh plan an

amount of Rs22 crores had been provided for Nirmithi Kendra to

develop strategies to overcome shortage of sand, setting up of

production centers for Cost Effective and Environment Friendly

(CEEF) materials, setting up of Margin Free Markets and Testing

facilities in all districts. During 2010 administrative and technical

sanctions have been accorded for two CEEF production units, one

each at Valliyoorkavu in Wayanad district and Chittoor in Palakkad

district. Training programme is conducted through the academic wing

of Nirmithi Kendra namely Laurie Baker Nirmithi Training and

Research Institute. For procurement of sand from forest and Dam site

and for distribution through Kalavara Margin free market, a sand

deposit has been opened at Kulathupuzha in collaboration with the

Forest department.

During the 1sttwo years of the Eleventh plan, by expending an

amount of Rs 62 lakh, 14 existing production centers had been

upgraded and 14 new production centers opened. Also CEEF

materials worth Rs 90 lakhs had been sold to the public during this

period.A margin free market, named as Kalavara, for the distribution

of building materials, cement and steel at reasonable rate has been

started at Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur

and steps have been taken to extend it in all districts of the state

during 2009-10. One testing lab has been established for buildings

148

materials at Thiruvananthapuram and two more labs at Palakkad and

Adoor are proposed during this year.

A new venture of KESNIK during 2009-10 is ‘setting up of

production centre for Interlocking bricks’.In this regard a production

centre for interlocking bricks using mud is proposed at Karode in

Parasala.This offers an alternative for cost effective construction;

thereby poor people can afford the expenses in connection with house

construction.Training is imparted in masonry, carpentry, Building

materials production etc to the unemployed skilled youth.

A Habitat Studies Centre in memory of late Padmasree

Dr.Laurie Baker, namely, Laurie Baker International School of

Habitat Studies (LaBISHaS) was established on 9-9-2009. LaBISHaS

as a Centre of Excellence will promote studies in alternative

sustainable habitat, facilitating research and development activities of

young talents through tie ups with premier Building Research

Institutes,set up of finishing schools in different dimensions of

housing constructions and create awareness among the public in

habitat practice.

6. Coastal Housing and Rehabilitation Programme (CHRP)-For the

implementation of this programme KSHB has been designated as a

nodal agency. During 2008-09 Rs.122.79 crores has been expended

for the construction of 7042 numbers of houses and 276.11 acres of

land identified for acquisition.

7. The Housing Scheme at Devikulam, Idukki for Government

employees (New scheme)- Under this scheme construction of housing

149

complexes for Government employees in the available Government

land at Devikulam in Idukki district is proposed. For the construction

of houses for LIG category at a construction cost of Rs 6 lakh and

MIG category at @ Rs10 lakh, an amount of Rs 200 lakh is provided

for 2010-11.

8. Pravasi Affordable Housing Scheme (New scheme)- This scheme is

aimed at the Non Resident Indians preferably Keralites working as

unskilled and or skilled labourers abroad. The proposed project is to

construct residential flats in the property owned by KSHB at

Kozhikode near Medical College.

9. Tribal Houses in Waynad District- Government have issued

sanction for the construction of 270 buildings for primitive tribes at

sultan Bathery Taluke in Waynad District as a part of construction of

housing schemes to the primitive tribes during the year 2006-07. The

work has been entrusted with KSHB as decided in the meeting

conducted by Waynad District collector on 08-01-2007. The

construction cost of one building is Rs 90000-and the total cost

required for the construction of 270 buildings amounts to Rs 243

lakhs and the amount has been received from ST Department.

An amount of Rs 2000 lakh is set apart for Suraksha Housing

scheme in the Eleventh plan. The estimated cost of house under this

scheme is Rs100000. A Government subsidy of Rs 25000/-per house

is granted for constructing a house. The voluntary organization/ NGO

shall give assistance of Rs 50,000 to the beneficiary to build the

structure up to roof level and the Government subsidy shall be

disbursed on completion of the roof. The share of the beneficiary is

150

Rs25,000. The KSHB has constructed 390 houses utilizing an amount

of Rs72.22 lakh during 2009-10 (Economic Review 2010).

During 1996-2006 government agencies/departments have

provided assistance to construct 718851 houses. About 80 per cent of

the support provided by the State to various housing programmes has

gone to EWS. During the decadal period over 14.5 lakh houses have

been constructed through all initiatives. Yet households at the lowest

rung of the socio-economic ladder have been unable to construct

durable houses that are appreciating assets.

The continuing problem of housing among the poor indicates the

need for effective intervention from the state on the issue of

sustainable housing. The state is yet to put in place a system of

ensuring housing for the weaker sections and low income groups in

spite of massive housing investment from the private sector in the

housing sector.

From the table 4.13 we can see the outlay and expenditure of

successive plans on ‘housing’ in kerala.This reflects the allocation of

funds and actual expenditure in this sector.

151

Table 4.13

Outlay and Expenditure on Housing during the Five Year Plan

Periods

Plan Outlay (Rs.lakhs) Expenditure (Rs.lakhs) 1 plan 10.00 36.06

II PLAN 206.53 138.55 III PLAN 310.00 189.45

Three annual plans (1966-69)

- 108.19

IV PLAN 230.00 463.34 V plan 1914.00 1726.12

VI PLAN 4800.00 6012.02 VII PLAN 6500.00 7167.94

VIII PLAN 14865.00 11737.48 IX PLAN 10048.00 17141.00 X PLAN 35400 28636.00 XI plan 53190 --

Source :S.P.B.Background papers 1983. Govt. of Kerala, Various plan documents.

It is clear from the table that during second, third, fifth, eighth

and tenth plans the actual expenditure had been less than the outlay

allocated for housing. During the tenth plan an amount of Rs 286.36

crores (81%) had been spent against the outlay of Rs 354 crores. Out

of this expenditure a major share of Rs 148.54 crores was utilized for

the construction of the houses for the poor through the ‘Maithri

Housing Scheme’- House for the Economically Weaker Sections

(EWS)

152

As shown in the table 4.14, likely expenditure during 2007-10

is 209.03 crores (39 %) against the outlay of 531.90 crores of the

eleventh Plan.

Table 4.14

Outlay and Expenditure on Housing Sector during 2007-10 (Rs.crores)

Period Outlay Expenditure Likely % expenditure during 2007-10

2007-08 31.28 32.54 (104%) 109% 2008-09 127.24 143.19 (113%)

2009-10 33.30 33.30 (anticipated)

Total 191.82 209.03

Source:- Eleventh five year plan 2007-12. Mid Term Appraisal S.P.B.TVM

4.3 Government Agencies in Housing Sector

Several agencies which are implementing housing schemes in

the State include Kerala State Housing Board, Kerala State

Co-operative Housing Federation, Kerala State Development

Corporation for SC/ST, SC/ST Development Department, Rural

Development Department including Kudumbashree which

implements ‘Ashraya’ housing scheme for the destitute (Table 4.15).

153

Table 4.15

Achievements under Major Housing Schemes by Different

Housing Agencies in Kerala

SL.No Name of Agency Name of Scheme Number of Houses

2006

-07

2007

-08

2008

-09

2009

-10

1

KSHB

Suraksha 134 913 912 390 Laksham Veedu Punarudharana Padhadhi

87 634 510 85

M.N Laksham Veedu bhavana padhadhi

4103 3424

SC Housing 921 424 302 HS for primitive tribes Wayanard

106 74 90

Tsunami HS 31 20 Innovative housing schemes

2

Nirmithi Kendra (KENSIK)

HS for primitive tribes Wayanad

70

SC Housing 1410 692 89 Housing Scheme (2nd Allottment)

18 4

ST Housing 4 10 Aralam Rehabilitation Kannu

75 32

3 SC Development Department 11074 12758 11206 6285 4 ST Development Department 1446 335 425 1929 5

Kudumbashree

BSUP 1079 IHSDP 1317

Vambay 3108 6

Commissionerate of Rural Dev. (CRD)

Credit Cum Subsidy

1061 652 1194 97

IAY 30817 37094 53052 51590

154

SL.No Name of Agency Name of Scheme Number of Houses

2006

-07

2007

-08

2008

-09

2009

-10

7

Fisheries dep.

NFWF 1251 1302 893 446Special Package 338 5

Coastal PURA Scheme Kasargod

42 12

8

Panchayat Directorate

General Housing 39794 21914 24995 SCP 9026 8716 7835 TSP 1880 2219 1560 EMS Housing 6370 IAY 2661

9 Directorate of Urban Affairs 10

HOUSEFED

EWS 665 558 251 142 LIG 1799 1675 1272 942 MIG 1389 2084 2203 2262 Others 1986 2083 1599 1623

11 Sainik Welfare Department 17 10 7 7

12 LIC Housing Finance,Ernakulam 3264 3273 3433 4029

13 GIC Housing Finance 387 229 115 69

14 HUDCO 162 236 226

15 Kerala State Co-op.Agril & RDB 17087 14225 10466 19538

16 Kerala State Development Co-op.for SC &ST

14

17 Schemes implemented by various agencies (Data from HUDCO)

BSUP 4748 17031 1369 IHSDP 6073 6231 5757 7621

Total 134337 139690 146150 101322 Total Houses (04/2006 to 09/2010)

521499

Source: Economic Review 2010. Note:-Advances Outstanding in Housing Sector of Commercial banks as on March 2010-including Kerala State Co-operative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank (KSCARDB)-564342 crores BSUP- Basic Service to Urban Poor IHSDP-Integrated Housing and Slum Development Project NFWF-National Fishermen Welfare Fund TSP-Tribal Sub Plan,SCP- Special ComponentPlan RDB-Rural Development Bank, PURA-Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas.

155

Non-governmental agencies such as COSTFORD (Centre of

Science and Technology for Rural Development) and Habitat

Technology Group, Co-operative Societies and Corporations such as

Kerala State Co-operative Housing Federation, Kerala Police

Housing and Construction Corporation have also helped in

constructing houses. In the recent government effort to rebuild

damaged houses for those who have been affected by Tsunami along

the coast, several NGOs also have contributed significantly. These

agencies / departments have provided assistance to construct 52.14

lakh houses during the period from 2006-07 to 2009-10 as shown in

the table 4.15. During 2010-2011 (up to 30-09-2010) assistance to

construct 43923 houses were given by them (Economic Review

2010).

In this chapter we have seen problems of housing in Kerala

state and the schemes implemented by the Government to solve the

housing problem. Achievement of the government agencies in the

housing sector, outlay on housing and the actual expenditure incurred

on housing during the different five year plans has also been

elaborated in this chapter. The important housing schemes being

implemented in Kerala especially in Thrissur district under People’s

plan is dealt with in the following chapter.

References

Department of housing, Kerala State housing Policy 2011,http:// www.hsgcomr,kerala.gov.in pdf/final policy–kshp. pdf2011 Geroge K.I and Abu George (2005) Renovating Laksham Veedu Kerala Calling Vol.25 Govt of Kerala, Economic Review 2002,2003,2009,2010 TVM

156

Government of Kerala, Travancore cochin Five year plan 1, 1951-1956 Kerala State planning Board. Thiruvananthapuram. Government of Kerala, second Five year plan, 1956-61 Kerala State Planning Board Thiruvananthapuram. Government of Kerala-Third Five Year Plan 1961-66,, Kerala State Planning Board Thiruvananthapuram. Government of Kerala. Fourth Five Year Plan 1969-74 Kerala State Planning Board Thiruvananthapuram Government of Kerala, Draft Fifth Five Year Plan 1974 -79 Vol.II Kerala State Planning Board. Thiruvananthapuram Government of Kerala Sixth Five Year Plan 1980-85,Kerala State Planning Board. Thiruvananthapuram Government of Kerala Draft Seventh Plan 1985-90 & Annual Plan 1985-86, Kerala State Planning Board Government of Kerala,Draft Eighth FiveYear plan 1990-95 and Annual plan1991-92 Vol1 &2, Kerala State Planning Board Government of Kerala, Draft Ninth Five Year Plan 1997-2002 and Annual Plan1997-98 Vol.1 &2,Kerala State Planning Board Government of Kerala, Draft Tenth Five Year Plan 2002-2007 and Annual Plan 2002-03, Vol.1, Kerala State Planning Board Government of Kerala, Eleventh Five Year plan 2007-12 and Annual Plan 2007-08, Vol.1&2, Kerala State Planning Board . Government of Kerala, Eleventh Five Year plan 2007-12 Mid Term Appraisal, Kerala State Planning Board . Government of Kerala (1983), Facts and figures on Housing Kerala and All India, Kerala State Planning Board . Government of Kerala Planning Board, Background papers for the Committee on Social Infrastructure And Services-status paper on Housing and UrbanDevelopment. Government of Kerala Office of the Housing Commissioner (1997-2002) Report of the task force on housing.1970 Kerala Population Census 2011 http://www.prokerala.com./ kerala/population.htm Koshy George (2002) “Housing conditions in Kerala An Evaluation‘ Southern Economist May.