4 yrs after promise of pucca homes, Irular families still living in huts

80 families in Sriperumbudur have no access to power, sanitation amid flood-risk

- SIDDHARTH PRABHAKAR @Chennai

ON March 6, Mariammal Babu (50), a woman from the Irular (Scheduled Tribe) community, died at her hutment near Sriperumbudur without realising her dream of living in a permanent house promised to her around three years ago by the Kancheepuram district administration.

Mariammal is among the 11 Irulars who have died without realising their dream of setting foot inside a permanent house despite getting land allotted to them with a promise of permanent houses at least three years ago. With the Kancheepuram district administration, which has been blamed for the inordinate delay, finally beginning the preliminary construction work earlier this month, the families are hoping for swift completion of the construction without further delays.

Since November 2021, at least 80 Irular families living in temporary structures near waterbodies across Sriperumbudur have received pattas from the state government. This came with an assurance of permanent houses to be built under multiple schemes for STs.