Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hands over the apartment keys to five-year-old Naisa, one of the survivors of the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide disaster in Wayanad district in August 2024. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday inaugurated the first phase of the Kalpetta township, built for Mundakkai-Chooralmala survivors, on 20 Keylands landslides, which handed over 24 houses to Keylides in July. 178 families.
Five-year-old Naisa, who lost her father and two siblings in the landslides, was one of the beneficiaries who received the keys from the chief minister. A video of her interaction with Mr. Vijayan on stage went viral on social media, with the CPI(M) online painting a picture of the contrast between the state government’s fulfillment of the promise and the Union government’s stand in refusing to help the victims. Young Naisa was seen with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in another viral video during his visit to Wayanad after the landslides.
‘Many Obstacles’
“We cannot compensate for many losses. But through compassion, we can help people slowly recover from this loss. This is the characteristic of humanity. We saw this in the survival of Mundakkai-Chooralmala. The world saw again the Kerala model of love, compassion and reciprocity. There were many obstacles, from propaganda to rejection of the central relief fund. Some appeals to help the survivors to embezzlement attempts and frauds also to destroy the rehabilitation project by fabricating lies, but it became a reality because of the unity and support of the people,” Mr. Vijayan said.
Talking about the efforts made by the government for the victims, he said that ₹6,000 has been provided as monthly rent for all the survivors of the disaster. An amount of ₹17.2 million was spent on livelihood support, while ₹2 million was spent on relief for 21 children who lost their parents in the disaster. In addition, 858 families are also provided with food coupons worth ₹1,000 per month. The Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund received assistance of ₹773.98 crore for the project.
Arrears of loan 555 to survivors
He said that the state government has decided to fully take over the loan arrears of 555 disaster victims in various banks to the tune of ₹18.75 crore, while the Union government has abdicated its responsibility. The township is a testament to the work ethic of the Uralungal Contracting Company, which deployed thousands of workers to complete the job with precise planning and extreme efficiency.
Along with the houses, the township includes public facilities such as a municipal hall, a disaster shelter, a football field, a disaster memorial, shops, a material collection point, a water reservoir, sewage treatment plants, an underground power grid, a sewage system, a 9.5 lakh liter water tank and a 2 kilowatt solar power plant in each house. The township, which is planned in five zones, is built in 35 clusters of 8-10 houses. Each cluster has a spacious green yard. A separate title deed will be issued to individual owners.
He said construction of houses for the remaining beneficiaries is nearing completion and the keys are expected to be handed over by the next monsoon. A recovery plan is also being implemented for entrepreneurs and business enterprises that lost their lives in the disaster.
Revenue Minister K. Rajan, who presided over the function, said the township exemplifies the approach of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, which goes beyond mere declaration and laying of foundation stones.
Published – 01 March 2026 20:27 IST
