From gutter to concrete houses: A happy twist for Narikuravars by CM Stalin

Narikuravars still don't have houses to reside in the independent India which is celebrating its 75th year of attaining independence. For this nomadic community in Vellore, CM Stalin has issued house pattas. As per the Vellore District Collector, more than 8000 house pattas were given to people of Vellore in the past 2 years. The notable fact here is the construction of concrete houses in the land given by the CM.

The issuance of more than 8000 pattas to Vellore people in the past 2 years has brought indescribable bliss to them. CM Stalin visited the Vellore district personally and gave out house pattas for more than 4000 persons. Most of them who received the pattas are destitute people who do not have a house and they reside in roadsides, tree shadows and near garbage dumps. For destitute people, having a house to live in is an unachievable dream which was made achievable by CM Stalin. Now they have house pattas and soon they will have concrete houses for which construction work is being undertaken by the government.

One of the commendable acts done by the government is the issuing of house pattas to Narikuravars who are helpless people residing at foothills. This act has brightened up the life of Narikuravars who are considered as the marginalised sections of the society. With the help of a volunteer, works have been going on for the construction of concrete houses in the pattas. This measure of the current DMK government helped Narikuravars to reside in one place instead of wandering from one place to the other. Because of CM Stalin, Narikuravars have achieved their long-held dream. Other measures taken include construction of roads, installation of street lamps, establishment of drinking water facilities and also facilitation of the education of children of Narikuravars. "We still have to go a long way in giving out house pattas", said Vellore District Collector Kumaravel Pandian IAS.

For the past 30 years, Sembaruthi from Narikuravar community has been living in Indira Nagar region in Katpadi, Vellore. Every year during the rainy season they will shift to other towns because of the flooding conditions in their place of residence. During the summer season they will return back to the Katpadi region. The 2021 flood carried away their huts leaving them with no place to stay. Now, CM Stalin has given them house pattas and also he has ordered the officials to construct a house in it. "We are eternally grateful to the person who gave us a place of residence", said Sembaruthi, controlling her emotions.

During the last rainy season, the flood washed away all of the clothes, utensils and other objects in the house. The inability of people to purchase new stuff and the lack of having a proper place to live forced them to stay in the water-logged conditions for weeks without any dry clothes or utensils. "The issuance of house pattas by CM has brought tremendous happiness because it has helped us to tackle the problems faced by us such as street dog problems, mosquito problems etc", said another woman.

Indira Nagar in Katpadi is closer to a lake which causes the flood to flow above the hut area during the rainy season. Last year rains wiped away the entire huts in the area and the residents of the area made complaints to the authorities regarding this. Analysing the situation, the authorities allocated accommodation in the Samathuvapuram area. People were staying in Samathuvapuram for 3 months and survived on the free food provided by the government. "In a way of fulfilling our petition to the government to allocate land in an elevated area, CM Stalin has given us house pattas within 5 days of the petition and the construction work of concrete houses is also going on", said one of the important persons in the Narikuravar community.

Vellore District Collector has allocated the Vandranthangal area in Vellore for the purpose. Each family will get around 2 cent land and already 30 families have settled in the allotted area. The area is provided with electricity, street lights, bore wells for drinking water, and separate toilets. The Tamil Nadu government had made these facilities as modern ones with the help of volunteers. Before, the Narikuravar community was regarded as MBC (Most Backward Class) but now the government under CM Stalin has changed their status to STs (Scheduled Tribes). Through all the measures CM Stalin has provided a settled life for the nomadic community.