3400 Scheduled Caste Families to Get Land Soon: Minister O R Kelu

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister O R Kelu informed the Legislative Assembly that land has been made available to 34,218 Scheduled Caste (SC) families over the past nine years. Since the current government came to power, land has been distributed to 13,531 SC families, covering 757 acres. This year, land will be distributed to an additional 3,400 people. The Minister also stated, in response to a 'calling attention' by K K Ramachandran, that land has been provided to 8,278 Scheduled Tribe (ST) families within the nine-year period.

For landless SC families under the LIFE Mission scheme, the government provides financial assistance to purchase land for house construction: 3.75 lakh rupees to buy five cents in a Panchayat area, 4.50 lakhs rupees for three cents in a Municipality, and 6 lakh rupees in a Corporation limit. For the vulnerable sections of the Scheduled Caste community, the amounts provided are 5 lakhs rupees, 6 lakhs rupees, and 7.50 lakhs rupees respectively. Up to 10 lakhs rupees is sanctioned for buying agricultural land. Since this government assumed office, 4151 landless ST families have been allocated 4542.16 acres of land.

The Minister also mentioned that people from the vulnerable, high-altitude regions of Arekopp and Veerankudi, which are prone to landslides and mudslides, are being resettled at a cashew plantation in Marankode, Chalakudy. About 130 people from 28 families who have received forest rights documents are currently living in temporary sheds at the Marankode cashew plantation. The Minister stressed the urgent need to resettle the inhabitants of Veerankudi as they face severe attacks from wild animals, including bison and leopards.