PM-JANMAN houses in Wayanad stall, force tribal families to live under plastic sheets

Pulpally: Beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) in Pulpally say they have been pushed into severe hardship after officials abruptly halted further assistance, leaving hundreds of tribal families stranded midway through the construction of their new homes.

Many who had already demolished their old houses and received the first two instalments now find themselves living under makeshift plastic sheets, waiting for approvals and payments that should never have been withheld under existing government norms. 

The officials have sought the permit granted by the panchayat to the beneficiaries even as work progressed through various stages. But a government order issued in 2019 had already exempted permits for houses built with government assistance in tribal areas. Despite this, officials continue to seek clarity, disregarding these provisions.

Construction of around 200 houses remains stalled in Panamaram block. Payment has not been released for a house completed at Madappallikkunnu in Mullankolly a year ago. Construction of several houses in Poothady panchayat also remains in limbo. With the rains staying away, favourable conditions exist for resuming construction. Tribal communities endured immense hardship during the seven-month-long rainy season, when transporting materials to forest villages and border hamlets was delayed for months. In some areas, beneficiaries even lost cement and sand stored for construction.

Tribal organisations allege that fund distribution is now being withheld, citing issues related to applications submitted via K-Smart and caste and income certificates. Efforts to free numerous tribal families languishing in Paathiri forest from extreme poverty have also been sabotaged. Living under plastic sheets, they continue to endure conditions akin to extreme poverty.

The disruption of government-funded housing projects has affected many lives. Officials are accused of needlessly creating trouble for residents of tribal hamlets such as Pallichira, Vettathoor, Kurichappatta, and Paalakkolly, where wild tuskers enter even during the daytime. Those in power are apprehensive that tribal protests during the election season may affect them.