CHENNAI: Twenty Irular families living for decades in a village near Tirukazhkundram in Chengalpattu district now fear displacement after local authorities began inquiries a few weeks ago.
Of the 40 Irular families living in the locality, 20 of them do not have pattas (land title deed). Except one or two, most of them live in permanent dwellings which were constructed with the help of a local trust a few years ago, residents said. The local village panchayat has helped lay roads and install street lights, but the 20 houses without patta have not been given power connection.
Members of the families have been working as agricultural labourers in three nearby villages for years, while youngsters study in local schools that are 3-4 km away, said a resident.
On May 14, officials from the Thiruporur taluk visited the locality and informed them that no additional pattas would be sanctioned for the Irulars as the land on which they are living is ‘meikal poramboke’.
The authorities also told them that they would be relocated to a different location where they would get pattas and government-sponsored housing. It is not known what action has been planned on the other 20 families who have received pattas.
“The proposed location is 20 villages away. It is unacceptable to us as we have lived here (in Kunnapattu) for generations and our livelihood is linked to this location. Also, we have not received any official communication in writing and everything has been said verbally,” said a resident. The group of Irulars has submitted two representations to the Chengalpattu administration in the last 15 days.
Dr Dalia Ghosh Dastidar, an independent consultant to Project Kanimar which works on empowering Irulars, said many among the tribals often struggle over land rights. The problem is possibly getting exacerbated due to the huge demand for land from real estate giants and MNCs; incidentally, there are multiple fimrs in the vicinity of Kunnapattu, she said.
While district officials did not respond to calls or messages, a senior government official said that they would look into the issue. “If the Irulars are living on ‘meikal poramboke’ land, it will be difficult to give them patta or electricity connection as there is a HC judgment on this. The issue of relocating them in the vicinity will be looked into if government land is available,” the official said.