Wayanad landslide: Little progress on rehab of tribal families, says Adivasi Maha Sabha

Kozhikode: Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha (AGMS) has said that the rehabilitation of 13 tribal families displaced in the aftermath of the Chooralmala-Mundakkai landslide disaster has made little progress, even after the inauguration of the first phase of the township project. The families, who are to be relocated from the Punchirimattam and Erattukundu areas, were not included in the main township project as they had expressed their unwillingness to move away from their traditional forest-based livelihoods. AGMS state coordinator M Geethanandan said that the Adivasi communities in Chooralmala were among the most socially backward and marginalized groups facing severe ethnic isolation. AGMS leaders said that the govt decided to provide alternative land within Chooralmala itself by making use of provisions under the Forest Rights Act. Documents for the alternative land have already been handed over Geethanandan said that it is unfortunate that the govt and the disaster management department — while implementing large township and rehabilitation projects — have effectively relegated the responsibility of Adivasi rehabilitation to officials of the scheduled tribes department at the district level. "On March 1, when the township project was inaugurated, the govt should have announced a clear rehabilitation package specifically for the Adivasi families. However, uncertainty still persists," he said State govt had announced during the inauguration of phase one of the township at Elstone Estate that a mini township will be set up on five hectares of land at Puthiyavillage for the 13 tribal families of Erattukundu and Punchirimattom and that the construction of the township has been entrusted with ULCCS.