Chooralmala: Over a hundred families who survived the catastrophic landslide in Wayanad have been excluded from the state government's township rehabilitation project, prompting plans for an indefinite protest in front of the Collectorate. The government has published four beneficiary lists, selecting 451 families, but many claim that discrepancies and favouritism mar the selection process.

Residents of Padavettikkunnu, Attamala and Rattakkolly, among the hardest hit areas, allege widespread omissions. Several families who lost everything in the landslide or whose homes now fall within officially designated 'No Go Zones' have not been allocated houses. In contrast, others with political affiliations are said to have received multiple allotments.

Widespread violation of norms
Survivors argue that selection norms have not been uniformly applied. They allege that some families who previously lived in a single house have now been allotted more than one residence under the township project. In contrast, several others who owned both land and property in declared danger zones have been excluded.

Janashabdam, the action council for the affected, is set to intensify its agitation. The group had earlier staged a one-day protest in front of the Collectorate demanding a fair and transparent beneficiary list.

Naseer Alakkal, chairman of Janashabdam, said, "Though the officials claim to follow certain guidelines, many eligible families were omitted, while others who do not meet the criteria have been included. We are not opposing those who received houses, but we demand fairness for all."

He cited the example of a plantation labourers’ cottage destroyed in the landslide that housed six families. “Only three families were included in the list, and the other three, despite identical circumstances, were ignored,” he added.

Many families from 'No Go Zones' omitted"
According to Janashabdam leaders, several families from politically unaffiliated backgrounds were excluded on “technical grounds,” while some affiliated with the ruling front received multiple houses per family. Eleven families residing near Punchirimattam, the epicentre of the landslide, have also been left out, despite being among the most severely affected.

Many survivors now live in rented cottages away from their homes and land. Although the state government covers the rent, they were still excluded from the township project. “It is unfortunate that even with sufficient land and public contributions, the government is not showing any leniency towards these victims,” Naseer said.

Disparity in aid under LIFE scheme
Prasanth Chooralmala, a CPI local secretary and also a landslide survivor, shared that he lost his estate cottage in the disaster. His house, built under the state’s LIFE Housing Scheme, also falls in a 'No Go Zone' and is uninhabitable. However, he was excluded from the beneficiary list because he had already received ₹4 lakh under the scheme.

“Many others who received LIFE scheme benefits were still included. But for some of us, these guidelines are being strictly enforced, while others face no such scrutiny,” he said.

Prasanth added that if the government continues to discriminate, he plans to approach the High Court with other affected individuals.