A new dawn for Wayanad

Humanity has survived all major disasters through willpower and hard work. History is abundant with such daring stories of survival. In Wayanad, people joined hands with the government to bring a new dawn, and their efforts have now yielded results.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan laid the foundation stone of a model township being built by the state government at Elston Estate in Kalpetta for victims of the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide disaster. The state government have every reason to be proud for rebuilding the lives of victims in such short span while facing the worst financial crisis.

The Chief Minister clarified that the township project was solely the effort of the state government. A package was requested, but the central government gave it as a loan to the government. The unwavering cooperation of generous individuals, organizations, institutions, and Malayali expatriates in Kerala will be needed to complete this project. Rs 725 crore will be used from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the township project. Houses of 1000 square feet will be constructed for 402 families in the township of Elston Estate. There will be 20 houses in a cluster. It is also commendable that the foundations for the houses are being prepared in a way to be turned into a two storey building in future.

Facilities like electricity, drinking water, health centers, public markets, playgrounds, and community centers are also being prepared as part of the township. The Uralungal Labor Contract Cooperative Society will take the onus of the construction work. The rebirth of two villages destroyed by landslides in another location will also serve as the beginning of new hopes.

The initiative also sends a message of a vigilant and benevolent community. just a call away to come with aid for the victims of the tragic disaster. For people in the affluent class and others leading a comfortable life, there is still more work we can do for the victims. The duty is ours, too, to confirm that our fellow natives get back to their normal ways again.

Private institutions should also give priority to providing jobs to qualified people who survived the disaster. The disaster not only wiped out two villages but also paralyzed the entire Wayanad district in many ways.

The setback in the tourism sector is just one of them. Long-term plans are needed to revamp it. The central government should also be part of the mission. The government in Delhi needs to make a decisive intervention to write off the debts of disaster victims in nationalized banks.