Kerala State Housing Board
The Kerala State Housing Board was established on March 5, 1971, as a successor to the Thiruvananthapuram City Improvement Trust, which had been formed in 1961 in line with national policy and vision. The establishment of the Board was in accordance with the Kerala State Housing Board Act of 1971, which aligned Kerala with other states in India in recognizing the need for a well-organized and systematic approach to address housing demands across various income groups. The transition from the Thiruvananthapuram Urban Improvement Trust to the Housing Board provided a strong foundation to effectively meet these housing challenges.
From the Urban Improvement Trust to the Housing Board
During India’s Second Five-Year Plan, Urban Improvement Trusts were established in major cities like Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta, and Madras to promote planned urban development. Inspired by this initiative, the Thiruvananthapuram Urban Improvement Trust was formed under the Improvement Act of 1960 (Act I of 1960) during the tenure of Chief Minister Pattom A. Thanu Pillai. Mr. Kunjikrishna Pillai, IAS, served as the Trust’s first Chairman, with Adv. R. Mohana Nathan Nair holding the position of Secretary until 1971. Over the years, notable figures such as JC Alexander, Krishnan Nair, IAS, and Ramavarma Thampan also served as Chairmen. The Trust’s technical department was led by experts like Shastri Swamy, Leela George Kosi, Ramanathapilla, and Ramalinga Iyer.
With a workforce of fewer than 100 employees, the Trust was funded through government grants, loans, and municipal tax contributions, along with limited credit assistance from commercial banks. The well-functioning and experienced Thiruvananthapuram Urban Improvement Trust provided a solid foundation for its transformation into the Kerala State Housing Board, a necessary step to spearhead the state’s housing sector.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister C. Achutha Menon and Housing Minister M.N. Govindan Nair, the Kerala State Housing Board was established, with Shri K.C. Sankara Narayanan, IAS, serving as its first Chairman and Adv. R. Mohananathan Nair as its Secretary. The Housing Board officially began operations on March 5, 1971.
The formal inauguration of the Board took place on March 20, 1971, at Kanakakunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram. Subsequently, by Government Order No. 158/72/LAD dated October 11, 1971, Shri K.T. Jacob was appointed as Chairman and Mr. S. Gopalan, IAS, as Secretary, marking the establishment of the Board on October 14, 1971.