It is a coming of end to decades of suffocation for families living in Laksham Veedu houses – twin 240 sq ft houses separated by a wall for two families each. The government has lend its nod to self-government institutions across the state, to convert all dilapidated Laksham Veedu houses into independent houses with all-new makeover. For the purpose, the local self bodies may either utilize own funds or that from the Development Fund allocated by govt. Funds would be so deployed that the slicing does not affect LIFE mission project. Guidelines to ensure this have been already released by local self bodies.
Laksham Veedu is Kerala’s oldest housing project launched for the weaker sections of the society. It built one lakh houses(laksham) comprising a 240 sq ft house with a single roof separated by wall, shared by two families each. Each family had two rooms, a kitchenette and a toilet pit to themselves. Over time, the constricting space, lack of privacy dilapidated walls and all made life miserable for the inhabitants, and there arose demand to convert these begrimed dwellings into independent houses with decent living space.
In certain areas, the houses were split and standalones erected. However, the trend hit roadblock after corporation made mandatory to seek approval from its planning board, for all new constructions. With the new scheme now announced however, that would not be necessary any more.
The decision to make way for independent houses at Laksham Veedu colonies, came about at a meeting of Corporation Committees presided by Minister AC Moideen. Rs 4 lakh as for LIFE Mission will be set aside for the Laksham Veedu scheme too, it was decided. Currently, the local self bodies are putting away a minimum of 20 percent of Development Fund towards LIFE project. Therefore, funds for Laksham Veedu would have draw on its other finances.
