Development is not about statistics alone, but uplifting those left behind, says CM

The completion of over five lakh houses under the LIFE Mission scheme and the inauguration of a model rehabilitation township at Kalpetta for families hit by the Wayanad landslides are not just two mere projects, but the fulfilment of the social interventions made to ensure the sustenance of the people and their livelihood, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.

In a statement here on Monday, he said as of February 2026, over 6 lakh families have received financial assistance as part of the LIFE Mission housing scheme. More than 5 lakh houses have been completed. Financial assistance to the tune of ₹4 lakh is provided per beneficiary (₹6 lakh for Scheduled Tribe families) who live in difficult terrains. The State government has spent a total of ₹20,831 crore, with the major share borne by the State government.

Following the devastating landslides in the Mundakkai-Chooralmala region of Wayanad in 2024, the State government undertook a comprehensive rehabilitation programme. The official inauguration of the township will be held on March 1. Built on 64.47 hectares, the construction of 178 of the 410 houses planned as part of the project was completed, which will benefit over 1,662 people on its completion.

The project includes roads, health centres, anganwadi, market, community facilities, and other infrastructure, and the houses are designed taking into account Wayanad’s terrain and climate and are earthquake-resistant. For the State, the development is not about statistics alone but about uplifting those left behind. These initiatives are also examples of governance rooted in social justice and human dignity, said the Chief Minister.