Kerala govt gifts 'useless' plots to tribals suffering deadly disease
- Government lost more than Rs 5 crore from the purchase of land
- The officers purchased barren land for distribution among tribals
- The plots are not fit for agriculture and mostly uninhabitable.
FollowIn a shocking case of official apathy and corruption, the funds allocated for the rehabilitation of tribal people of Wayanad who are suffering from sickle cell anemia and were used to purchase uninhabitable plots.
An investigation conducted by Asianet News has found that the government lost more than Rs 5 crore in purchase of plots in different parts of Wayanad to rehabilitate the tribes. The investigation also unearthed irregularities in the construction of houses as well.
The officials told Asianet News that the uninhabitable plot, situated on a steep rise, was purchased due to pressure from Congress leaders during the term of the United Democratic Front (UDF) government.
The UDF government decided to rehabilitate the tribals in the area after a survey by health officials found that the area is prone to sickle cell anemia, a serious health condition which produces sickle-shaped blood cells containing abnormal hemoglobin called sickle hemoglobin.
Though the government had decided to provide arable land to tribals infected with the disease, the plots distributed were not fit for living.
For example, the government purchased a rocky tea estate in Thavinjal village in Wayanad at the rate of Rs 16,000 per cent. A total of Rs 1 crore 60 lakh was paid for the land. The use of pesticides in tea estates makes this land unsuitable for persons suffering from sickle cell anemia. Again, the changing climate in the area also poses a threat to the health of tribals.
The land was purchased jointly by Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes Development and Revenue Department. The government lost Rs 17 lakh 25000 from the land purchase at Kanjirangad village alone. In another instance, a barren land in Mananthavady village was bought for distribution among tribals.
