IUML's Landslide Rehabilitation Housing Project in Wayanad Emphasizes Social Harmony
In a significant display of communal unity, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is set to hand over the first phase of its housing project for survivors of the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide in Wayanad this Saturday. This initiative stands as a powerful counter-narrative to divisive headlines, showcasing religious amity and social cohesion in action.
Priority Allocation to Hindu Families Without Draw of Lots
Of the 51 houses completed in the initial phase, 14 have been specifically allotted to Hindu families, who were given priority without undergoing a draw of lots. This deliberate decision was made to ensure that applicants from the Hindu community were accommodated in the first phase itself, avoiding any potential delay until the second phase.
"There were 87 applicants from the state government's beneficiary list who sought inclusion in our housing project. We decided to include the Hindu survivor families in the first phase without a draw because if they were not selected, they would have had to wait until the second phase," explained T Mohammed, IUML Wayanad district secretary. He emphasized that this move was taken with the full concurrence of all applicants, reflecting a collective commitment to fairness and inclusivity.
Project Details and Future Phases
The remaining 37 beneficiaries in this phase, all from the Muslim community, were selected through a transparent draw. Mohammed noted that while no applications have been received from Christian survivor families so far, the party anticipates five to six more applications from Hindu families in the second phase. The houses are being provided to families who opted out of the government's rehabilitation project at Kalpetta township, offering them an alternative path to recovery.
The IUML is constructing a total of 105 houses on 11.2 acres of land at Vellithode. Each house spans 1,060 square feet, built on eight cents, and features three bedrooms, a kitchen, dining hall, work area, sit-out, and a small garden. The infrastructure includes interlocked tiled roads, along with water and electricity connections, and the party is also supplying furniture to the beneficiaries.
Funding and Inauguration
The project has been funded through crowdfunding, with Rs 36.5 crore collected so far and Rs 27.6 crore already spent. A fresh round of fundraising has been launched to cover the remaining expenses. The keys to the new houses will be handed over by IUML state president Panakkad Sadikkali Shihab Thangal, with IUML national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi serving as chief guests at the ceremony.
Symbolic Gestures of Unity
In a poignant prelude to the project, Thangal, Kunhalikutty, and other leaders visited the nearby Thrikkaipatta Shiva temple on the invitation of temple authorities before laying the foundation stone. Thangal highlighted that it is the unity of people, beyond caste and religion, which has been instrumental in providing solace to the landslide survivors. This gesture underscores the project's broader message of harmony and collective effort in times of crisis.
As the first phase nears completion, this housing project not only addresses the immediate needs of disaster-affected families but also sets a benchmark for community-driven rehabilitation efforts that prioritize inclusivity and social cohesion.
