KSHRC orders probe into living conditions of settlers in Chengara protest land

The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the plight of families living on the Ambedkar Memorial Model Village (Chengara protest land) and ordered a comprehensive probe into their living conditions.

Commission chairperson Alexander Thomas has directed the Pathanamthitta District Collector to form a team led by the Deputy Collector or RDO, the Assistant Executive Engineer (Public Works) and the Assistant Executive Engineer (Konni block or district panchayat) to inspect the area and identify deficiencies in road access. The inquiry must be completed within three weeks, after which the Collector has to convene a meeting of key officials, including those from the Public Works department and Scheduled Tribe Development Department and submit a comprehensive report within six weeks.

The commission also instructed the Kerala Water Authority’s Assistant Executive Engineer, along with Panchayat Secretaries and the District Scheduled Tribe Development Officer, to conduct a joint inspection into the lack of piped water and propose solutions. A similar inspection is to be carried out by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), with the Executive Engineer required to file a report within six weeks on steps to ensure electricity supply.

The Joint Director of Panchayats has been tasked with ensuring toilet facilities, with a directive to set up public toilets if individual ones cannot be provided immediately. The District Medical Officer must appoint a senior officer to assess healthcare gaps and file a report within six weeks.

Schooling facilities

On the education front, the District Education Officer and the Tribal Development Officer have been directed to assess children’s facilities and ensure schooling in nearby institutions if no local option exists.

Mr. Thomas further directed senior officers of various departments including, revenue, PWD, KWA, KSEB, along with officials from health, education, and tribal development departments, to appear in person before the Commission on November 11 at the PWD Rest House, Thiruvalla.

The order follows a report published in The Hindu last week, which exposed the deplorable conditions of around 200 children of settlers in the Chengara protest land, who remain deprived of basic facilities such as roads, electricity, water, toilets, health care, and education.