In response to prolonged delays in their rehabilitation, the victims of the Wayanad landslide are preparing for a protest in front of the Wayanad Collectorate next week. Organized by the Janashabdam Action Committee, this demonstration aims to bring attention to the slow progress in securing relief and the alleged lack of support from both central and state governments. Frustrations have mounted as victims contend with severe financial hardships, leading the action committee to demand immediate intervention. Committee members warned that if issues persist, they may escalate their protest by taking it to Delhi, possibly involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a visit.
Residents of Wayanad’s Chooralmala and Mundakkai areas, some of the worst affected by the landslide, have faced almost three months of inadequate aid. Legal complications have further hindered progress; for instance, land acquisition in Elston and Nedumpala estates intended for a rehabilitation township is currently tangled in a legal dispute. The estate owners’ petition against land acquisition under the Disaster Prevention Act is due for a court hearing on November 4, effectively pausing land transfers until then.
Promises of financial support, initially set at Rs 300 per day for affected residents, have not been consistently met, and pledges by banks to forgive certain loans remain unfulfilled. This ongoing neglect and broken promises have led the victims to form an organized committee to demand that authorities address their immediate needs for housing, financial relief, and community support. The dharna at the Collectorate seeks to raise awareness of the critical situation facing Wayanad’s landslide victims and to press for timely solutions.
