Keralam SAFE Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Keralam SAFE Scheme (Secure Accommodation and Facility Enhancement Scheme) provides financial assistance to eligible Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) families to renovate damaged houses or complete unfinished houses. The scheme aims to improve housing conditions and help eligible families make their homes safer and suitable for living. The SC and ST programmes operate under their respective development departments and follow separate eligibility conditions. The same department also runs the Dakshayani Self-Entrepreneurship Assistance Scheme for SC women's self-help groups, and the UNNATHI Scholarship Scheme for SC/ST students pursuing overseas studies.

Under the SAFE Housing Scheme, eligible SC families can receive ₹2 lakh for house renovation and completion. The assistance is paid in three instalments of ₹50,000, ₹1 lakh and ₹50,000, subject to construction progress and verification. Applicants must belong to the SC category, have an annual family income of up to ₹1 lakh, and own a house registered in their name or their spouse's name. The house construction must have been completed after 1 April 2010.

Under this scheme, the eligible ST families can receive financial assistance of up to ₹2.50 lakh per house, based on the approved estimate. Applicants must belong to the ST category and have an annual family income below ₹2.50 lakh. The programme supports the renovation of dilapidated houses and completion of unfinished houses, subject to the applicable departmental guidelines.

Eligible applicants can apply for the Keralam SAFE scheme offline. For this, SC applicants should contact the concerned Block, Municipality or Corporation Scheduled Caste Development Office to obtain the application form and confirm the current submission deadline. They must submit the completed form with the required documents and house renovation estimate. The department verifies the application, and an accredited engineer inspects the house and prepares the estimate before the final beneficiary list receives approval. ST applicants should contact the nearest Tribal Development Office to obtain the applicable guidelines, confirm the required documents and submit their application through the prescribed online or offline process.

Scheme Benefits

The Keralam SAFE (Secure Accommodation and Facility Enhancement) Scheme supports eligible Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) families in renovating damaged houses and completing unfinished homes. The assistance amount and applicable conditions differ between the two programmes.

For Scheduled Caste (SC) Families

• Financial assistance of up to ₹2 lakh is sanctioned for house completion and renovation
• The assistance is released in three instalments of ₹50,000, ₹1,00,000 and ₹50,000.
• Beneficiaries can use the assistance for roof completion, sanitary toilet construction, wall strengthening, installation of doors and windows, and kitchen renovation.
• Approved works also include flooring, plastering, whitewashing, painting, electrical work and plumbing.

For Scheduled Tribe (ST) Families

• Eligible households can receive financial assistance of up to ₹2.50 lakh per house, based on the approved estimate.
• The assistance supports the renovation of dilapidated houses and completion of unfinished houses.
• Priority is given to eligible flood-affected families and families identified through the Extreme Poverty Survey 2021–22 and the specified micro-planning e-survey.
• Gothrajeevika tribal self-help groups engaged in construction activities receive preference for house repair and renovation work.
• The department's published guidelines provide for 25% of the funds to go to women beneficiaries.

Works Covered Under Keralam SAFE Scheme

The Keralam SAFE Scheme supports eligible Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) families in improving their existing houses and completing unfinished homes. The approved construction and renovation works should follow the guidelines issued by the respective development department.

For Scheduled Caste (SC) Beneficiaries

According to the government order dated 27 September 2022, SC beneficiaries can use the assistance for the following construction and renovation components:

• Roof completion
• Construction of sanitary toilets
• Strengthening walls
• Installation of doors and windows
• Kitchen renovation, including kitchen slabs, shelves and cooking facilities
• Flooring, preferably with tiles
• Plastering, whitewashing and wall painting
• Electrical work, including wiring, ELCB, fans and lights
• Plumbing to provide piped water to the kitchen and toilet

For Scheduled Tribe (ST) Beneficiaries

The Scheduled Tribes Development Department's SAFE housing programme supports the following broad categories of work:

• Repair and renovation of dilapidated houses
• Completion of unfinished houses

Note: The Scheduled Caste notice provides the detailed list of renovation works. The Scheduled Tribes Development Department confirms the broader purpose of its SAFE programme, but applicants should verify the specific eligible works with the department before undertaking construction.

Eligibility Requirements

The Keralam SAFE Scheme provides housing renovation and completion assistance to eligible Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) families. Applicants must meet the eligibility conditions prescribed by the respective development department.

For Scheduled Caste (SC) Applicants

• The applicant must belong to the Scheduled Caste category.
• The applicant's annual family income must not exceed ₹1 lakh.
• The house construction must have been completed after 1 April 2010.
• The house must be registered in the applicant's name or their spouse's name.
• The applicant must not have received government financial assistance for house construction, renovation or completion during the previous five years.
• Applicants who received the final instalment of housing assistance within the previous five years are not eligible.

For Scheduled Tribe (ST) Applicants

• The applicant must belong to the Scheduled Tribe category.
• The applicant's annual family income must be below ₹2.50 lakh.
• The house must have been completed after 1 April 2006, subject to confirmation of the applicable conditions under the ST programme.
• The applicant's family must not have received government financial assistance for house renovation or completion after 1 April 2018.
• Eligible families may receive priority according to the department's prescribed criteria, including applicable flood-affected family and poverty-survey provisions.

Note: The SC eligibility conditions are based on the notice shared. The ST conditions come from the separately published Scheduled Tribes Development Department guidelines. Applicants should confirm the latest eligibility rules with the relevant department before applying.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare the following documents to apply for housing renovation or completion assistance under the Keralam SAFE Scheme. The caste certificate and income certificate must correspond to the applicant's category and applicable eligibility conditions.

• Scheduled Caste (SC) Certificate or Scheduled Tribe (ST) Certificate
• Income Certificate
• Aadhaar Card or other accepted identity proof
• Residence Certificate or Address Proof
• House Ownership Documents
• House Construction Completion Proof
• Bank Passbook or Bank Account Details
• House Renovation or Construction Estimate
• Photographs of the Existing House, if required
• Declaration Regarding Previous Housing Assistance, if required
• Other Supporting Documents Required by the Concerned Department

Note: This is a provisional list. Applicants should confirm the mandatory documents with the concerned Scheduled Caste Development Department or Scheduled Tribes Development Department before applying.

Steps to Apply

Eligible applicants must follow the application procedure prescribed by the concerned department to receive housing renovation or completion assistance under the Keralam SAFE Scheme. The application process differs for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) beneficiaries.

For Scheduled Caste (SC) Applicants

• Visit the Scheduled Caste Development Office at your concerned Block, Municipality or Corporation.
• Obtain the SAFE Scheme application form from the concerned office.
• Fill in the application form with the required personal, family income and house details.
• Attach the required documents, including the caste certificate, income certificate and house-related documents.
• Submit the completed application form and supporting documents to the concerned office by 31 October 2026.
• Keep the application acknowledgement for future reference and contact the office to check the application status.

For Scheduled Tribe (ST) Applicants

• Contact the nearest Tribal Development Office to confirm the application procedure for the ST housing assistance programme.
• Obtain the application form and scheme guidelines from the concerned office or the official department website.
• Complete the application form and provide the required personal, income and housing details.
• Attach the documents required by the Scheduled Tribes Development Department.
• Submit the application through the prescribed online or offline method.
• Keep the acknowledgement or application reference number and follow up with the concerned office regarding verification and approval.

Important: The SC programme's application instructions and deadline should be confirmed with the concerned Scheduled Caste Development Office. For ST applicants, the department's official website states that applications for its schemes may be submitted online or manually at the nearest Tribal Development Office, depending on the individual scheme.

Relevant Links

• Keralam SAFE Scheme Application Deadline for SC
• Keralam SAFE Scheme Details for ST Applicants
• Keralam SAFE Scheme Info
• Scheduled Castes Development Department (SCDD) Official Website
• Scheduled Tribes Development Department (STDD) Housing Scheme Page

Contact Information

• Keralam SC Department Phone Number: 0471- 2737100
• Keralam ST Department Phone Number: 0471- 2304594
• Keralam SC Department Email: [email protected]