Kerala Landslide Sole Survivor Denied Housing in New Township Scheme
As the Kerala state government prepares to inaugurate a dedicated township for survivors of the devastating Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide on March 1, a heartbreaking exclusion has come to light. Sanooja P, a 27-year-old native of Mundakkai who lost her entire immediate family in the tragedy, has been left off the beneficiary list due to what authorities describe as technical grounds.
A Fateful Decision That Saved Her Life
On the day of the catastrophic landslide, Sanooja was staying with her parents at Mundakkai Padi while pregnant. Her mother, Zeenath, concerned about the heavy rainfall, asked her to return to her husband's home for safety. That night, Sanooja's parents Basheer and Zeenath, along with her brothers Shalu Shemin and Salman Faris, moved from their padi to her mother's ancestral home near the Mundakkai mosque, believing the elevated location would offer protection. Tragically, the landslide swept them all away.
Sanooja now lives in Vellamunda with her husband Shamshudeen, a bus conductor, and their two children. The couple does not own a house, and despite being the sole survivor of her family, she has not received a home in the new township.
Compensation Controversy and Procedural Hurdles
Shamshudeen revealed that while authorities provided ex-gratia compensation for the deaths of Sanooja's parents, they denied payment for her brothers' deaths. "They denied that payment because she is married. They are using that technicality to deny her claim even though she is the only surviving member of the family," he explained. He further noted that the monthly rent and livelihood support provided to affected families ceased after just three months.
Traumatic Recovery and Identification Process
The family's anguish was compounded by the circumstances surrounding the recovery and identification of their loved ones' remains. The bodies of her father and one brother were never recovered. Her mother and other brother were identified through DNA testing only after other families had mistakenly buried them, necessitating a painful exhumation before the remains could be properly handed over.
Allegations of Inconsistent Treatment
Shamshudeen alleged that while authorities cite procedural grounds to deny benefits to Sanooja, there have been at least two other instances where surviving women were included in the beneficiary list. This inconsistency has raised questions about the fairness of the selection process.
Broader Community Exclusion and Planned Protests
Residents of Mundakkai Padi, Ratta Padi, and Padavettikunnu claim they too have been excluded from the beneficiary list, citing distance norms recommended by the John Mathai Committee. These affected communities are planning a protest outside the township in Kalpetta on the day of its inauguration.
Political Response and Alternative Housing Initiative
In a related development, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for homes that Congress will build for survivors at Kunnambetta at 2:30 PM on Thursday. This alternative housing initiative highlights the ongoing political attention to the landslide aftermath and the needs of affected families.
The situation underscores the complex challenges in disaster recovery and compensation distribution, where technical regulations sometimes conflict with humanitarian needs, leaving the most vulnerable survivors without essential support.
