House work of just 2.4% beneficiaries in progress

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ever since the government launched the second phase of Life Mission - the housing scheme for the homeless- on July 1, 2020, work on the houses have begun or are in various stages of progress only in the case of 2.42% beneficiaries, who have made it to the final list of eligible, show government statistics.The final list of 3,54,552 beneficiaries was published in April last year. Of this, as per data till March 4 this year accessed by TOI, in the second phase, only 30,239 beneficiaries have entered into agreements with the respective local bodies so far and the work is in various phases of 803 houses. These include 5,641 houses for which the work has begun, 2,182 houses at the basement stage, 587 houses with work up to lintel, 189 houses with work up to the roof and four houses that have been completed.The government had merged all the existing central and state housing schemes to launch the Life Mission, under which Rs 4 lakh each is offered to the beneficiaries. Of this, Rs 40,000 is paid as advance, Rs 1.6 lakh after the completion up to the basement, Rs 1 lakh once the work progresses up to lintel level and the final Rs 1 lakh after the completion of the house. Of the Rs 4 lakh, Rs 2.20 lakh is the loan to be taken by the local body from Hudco, Rs 1 lakh as the state government share, Rs 40,000 by the grama panchayat and Rs 20,000 each from the district and block panchayats.The low number of progress of the physical work of houses means that disbursement is also very low. Of the Rs 717 crore earmarked for Life Mission this year under the plan funds, the expenditure till now is only Rs 50.56 crore (7.05%). The main reason cited for this is the financial crunch that the state is facing. As the financial year is soon coming to a close and the treasury is flooded with bills for clearance, the government last month reduced the ways and means limit from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 10 lakh due to the financial crunch. Presently, only funds for SC and ST beneficiaries are being released to the local bodies, said sources. Several beneficiaries, who have made it to the final list, are approaching the district collectors with petitions that they are not being granted money from the local bodies, sources added.