Wayanad: 51 families move into Muslim League-built homes

Wayanad: In Kerala’s Wayanad, 51 families displaced by the 2024 landslides have moved into newly built homes under a rehabilitation project led by the Indian Union Muslim League, even as delays continue to stall state government-led housing efforts.

The families entered their new houses at Muttil on Monday, marking the first phase of a larger project planned on 11.5 acres of land acquired by the IUML. Each house, built on eight cents of land, spans 1,060 square feet and comes fully furnished, along with essential supplies such as grocery kits. The homes include three bedrooms, a kitchen, dining space, work area and sit-out, along with paved courtyards.

The event drew widespread attention online, with visuals showing families from different religious backgrounds performing their respective rituals while moving in. Of the 51 families, 14 belonged to the Hindu community, and traditional practices such as lighting lamps and conducting pujas were observed. The images were widely circulated, with many projecting them as a reflection of communal harmony.

The development has also sharpened the contrast with other rehabilitation efforts. A state government township project, inaugurated on March 1 to house 178 affected families, remains incomplete, with none of the beneficiaries having moved in so far. Similarly, a housing initiative announced by the Congress, a key ally of IUML in the Opposition UDF, has yet to take off due to financial constraints.

The IUML project, which aims to construct a total of 105 houses, has managed to deliver more than half in its first phase. The remaining houses are expected to be completed by September, positioning the initiative as a rare instance of swift rehabilitation amid ongoing delays elsewhere.