AS many as 178 houses were handed over by the LDF government in Kerala to the survivors of the Wayanad landslides of 2024 earlier this month. It marked the first phase of a township being built by the state government. Title deeds of the land were also handed over to the families. An action plan has been prepared to provide all the survivors with their own land and houses before the onset of the monsoon.

As a result of the disaster, an entire locality disappeared overnight. People lost their loved ones, houses, livelihoods, and suffered disabilities. The entire society of Kerala came together to provide solace and assistance to the survivors, so that they could redeem their lives. Added to that was the elevated humanitarian approach adopted by Kerala’s LDF government. It was this organic collaboration that helped script the survival story of the people of Mundakkai and Chooralmala.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

All along the way, there were many obstacles, starting right from the first week after the disaster. False propaganda was unleashed against the utilisation of funds in the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). Calls were made from certain political corners to not donate even a single penny to the CMDRF. Conscious efforts were made to mislead the survivors about the state government’s assistance and rehabilitation. When the state government acquired land to build a township, the matter was taken to court. There were even some media campaigns to derail the rehabilitation project. Above all, the Union government which was extremely lenient in assisting other disaster-hit states refused to provide any assistance to Kerala when it came to rehabilitation. Yet, within just 10 months after starting construction, the LDF government was able to complete the first phase of the Wayanad Rehabilitation Township.

Amid all these obstacles, the unity of the people of Kerala was evident right from the beginning. People from all parts of Kerala joined hands in the rescue operations. Camps were set up quickly in which apart from food, medicines and essential items, counselling services were provided to each and every affected person. There was an influx of aid into the camps. Ministers, led by a cabinet sub-committee, camped at the site and directly supervised all the rescue and relief activities. Proper arrangements were made for burying the deceased, in a plot in Puthumala Estate, which was acquired within days, to set up a crematorium. Alongside all this, the state government started the necessary steps to relocate those in the camps to rented houses and government quarters, which enabled the survivors to move into normal living conditions in a matter of just weeks.

AID AND ASSISTANCE

Unused government quarters were repaired and made available. For those who were interested in renting a place of their own choice, the state government provided rent. Rs 6,000 was allocated per family, with more than Rs 6 crore being spent on it till now. Food coupons of Rs 1,000 were also provided to 858 families per month. Daily assistance of Rs 300 -- totalling Rs 9,000 per month -- was provided to the survivors who lost their livelihood, with Rs 17.2 crore being spent on it. Rs 13 crore was distributed as relief assistance and Rs 1.3 crore as emergency assistance. Rs 2 crore was spent to provide assistance to 21 children who lost both parents in the disaster.

Despite all the efforts to prevent people from helping, there was an unprecedented pouring in of assistance into the CMDRF. Rs 773.98 crore was donated to it, specifically to help the victims of the Wayanad disaster. Organisations and individuals from all walks of life extended a helping hand. Even a few other state governments came forward to help Kerala. The LDF government fully took over the outstanding loan amount of Rs 18.75 crore of 555 debtors who were survivors of the Wayanad landslides. It essentially translated into the waiving of 1,620 loans. This was done when the Union government, which was requested several times by the state government to take steps to write off the loans of the disaster victims, paid no heed.

LAND ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION

When it came to the rehabilitation of the survivors, the LDF government sought the opinion of the larger society through public consultations. Foremost consideration was given to ensuring that the new houses would be in a safe and secure place, where the survivors could live together, and pursue their livelihoods. Initially, land was identified at 31 places in Wayanad district. It was further narrowed down to 9. Finally, after considering the needs of the survivors, it was decided to take over Nedumbala Estate and Elston Estate. Later, it was ascertained that 410 families could be resettled in Elston Estate with seven cents of land per family and other public facilities in a township.

The government order for land acquisition was issued in October 2024. In November 2024, the process of identifying the beneficiaries in phase one began. Meanwhile, the land acquisition got delayed due to litigation. After receiving permission from the High Court, the valuation of the land and survey procedures were completed in record time. In April 2025, the land acquisition procedure was completed in a single day by depositing Rs 44.33 crore in the court. Construction of the township also began immediately.

Construction of the township was undertaken by the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society. ULCCS was formed more than 100 years ago under the leadership of Vagbhatananda, a renaissance leader, with the aim of freeing the workers from wage slavery. Despite the challenges created by rains during the summer as well as the monsoon, the construction went ahead and was completed in a record 10 months. The Wayanad Rehabilitation Township that is a reality today is a testimony to the toil of thousands of construction workers and officials, who went ahead with planning and discipline.

THE TOWNSHIP

Along with the houses, there are public facilities like community hall, football ground, shops, material collection facility, water reservoir, water tank with a capacity of 9.5 lakh litres, drainage system, sewage treatment plants, solar power plant in each house with a capacity of 2 KV, underground electricity distribution network, disaster shelter, and a disaster memorial. The township, which is designed into 5 zones, is built in 35 clusters. Each cluster consists of 8 to 20 houses. Each cluster has a spacious green courtyard. A five and a half metre wide road surrounds this courtyard. The houses in each cluster are built facing that road. This courtyard is useful for adults to gather in, for children to play, and can be used as a small kitchen garden if desired. Providing necessary furniture for every house built in the township is under consideration.

‘Build Back Better’ was the motto that guided the LDF government while building the township. Therefore, the houses and public buildings were built so as to withstand natural disasters. Each house is built with 9 concrete walls, 90 centimetres wide. In addition, beams, plinth beams and roof beams with a height of one and a half feet, are installed at the ground level, roof level and roof level. Hence, although the houses are currently single storeyed, more floors can be built on top, if required. Quality has been fully ensured at every stage of the construction, with each material used for construction being tested in a lab set up at the construction site itself. In addition, the construction materials were tested by an independent agency too. Fifty-eight types of inspections were done before the completion of each house. Inspections were carried out before and after each construction stage to ensure that the construction standards were met. Only after each inspection was passed, did the construction proceed to the next stage.

The LDF government had given two rehabilitation options to the survivors. They could either opt for a house in the township, or accept Rs 15 lakh as compensation. The vast majority of the families chose a house in the Wayanad Rehabilitation Township. In the first phase of the township, houses have been given to those whose houses were completely destroyed in the landslides. A revival plan for entrepreneurs who lost their businesses in the disaster is also being implemented, taking their opinions into account.

According to current estimates, 1,662 people from 402 families will live in the Wayanad Rehabilitation Township, when it is fully completed. The LDF government created a safe space where people can live together in harmony, overcoming indescribable hardships. This Kerala model of rehabilitation, when a state government overcomes hardships as well as the Union government’s neglect, is attracting global attention.