Chief Minister launched at Thiruvananthapuram on September 17, 2009 a twin-pronged strategy programme of providing houses and jobs for all the needy in the next two years. It is conceived as an integrated programme routing resources from all corners to achieve the objective of providing houses to all poor families in the State, besides empowering them economically. The programme is to be implemented by the local bodies mobilising support from all corners, as inwe the case with the people’s plan campaign of the previous years.

Nearly two lakh families had been provided new houses during the last two years. About three lakh families are still homeless according to estimates. These houseless families are to be given subsidies ranging between Rs. 75,000 and Rs. 1.25 lakh each to build new houses. There is an assistance component for providing land also to those without land to build houses.

The housing component of the programme requires an investment of Rs. 2500 crore. The local bodies will take loans from cooperative banks to supplement their plan resources earmarked for housing to raise the amount, with the State government bearing the interest on the loans. Funds from the Central schemes for housing for poor too will go into the project, as also contributions from the public. The local bodies will repay the principal of the loan amounts in 10 yearly installments by utilising a portion of their plan funds. An account under the title “EMS Housing Fund” is to be opened by the Government to receive contributions from the public. A mechanism to provide technical support for building houses is to be created at various levels in each district.

The “employment for all” component of the project is sought to be implemented by drawing assistance from Union Government’s employment generation programme. Women self help groups under the Kudumbasree will be the main channel for generating employment for the poor.