Minister for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes A.K. Balan brought cheer to the tribespeople of Aruvikkara by promising to distribute title deeds for every eligible family within a month.
During a visit to the Podiyam tribal settlement in Kottoor on Saturday, Mr. Balan instructed the officials of the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) to receive applications from the eligible.
Steps should then be initiated for title deed distribution under the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, the Minister said.
The ITDP officials told the Minister that title deeds pertaining to 679 acres of land meant to be distributed among 507 families in the Kottoor forest land in Kuttichal were yet to be given way.
43 applications
A total of 43 applications had been received so far for the purpose.
Mr. Balan said steps would be expedited to provide houses for the homeless. He also issued instructions to ensure the quick completion of pending construction works.
Study centres
He said community study centres were of much importance in tribal areas. Of the five such centres that were allotted for the district, three came under such areas.
The construction of the proposed centres at Thalathuthakavu in Vithura, and Podiyakala and Valippara in Kuttichal would be completed this year itself.
School building
The Minister added that talks would soon be initiated with people’s representatives in the Aruvikkara constituency to shift the existing model residential school in Kuttichal from a rented building, where it had been functioning since 2011.
The construction of the school building would commence this year.
K.S. Sabarinadhan, MLA, and officials representing various departments accompanied the Minister during the visit.
