KASARGOD: The government gave Valliyottu Shyamala three cents of land, and the village officer accepted the tax. The panchayat allotted her a house under the LIFE scheme. However, the poor woman, who went to build a house on the government allotted land, was not even allowed to set a foot on the land. Shyamala was allotted the land in 2014. When she went to build a house on this land in 2018, a neighbour opposed her by claiming that the land belonged to him. For the last three years, this 69-year-old woman has been visiting various government offices to unravel the confusion over the land.

Was she cheated by the government or the neighbour? Shyamala, her daughter Mani and her children haven't figured it out yet. The family now lives in a rented house with the help of some kind people. On February 22, 2014, Shyamala was allotted three cents of land in Padikkeel in Kodakkad village. She paid tax till 2018. She also received the title deed and possession certificate.

In 2018, the Pilicode Grama Panchayat passed the house under the LIFE scheme and paid the first instalment. Following this, Shyamala began construction works. However, the man who lived next door interrupted this by claiming that the land belonged to him and that the High Court had ruled in his favour.

Although Shyamala had tried to hand over a complaint to the former Revenu Minister, she was not able to meet the minister. She also approached various government offices for help. Officials are now saying that the village officer, who allotted her the land, had committed a mistake.

Shyamala's only income is the widow pension of Rs 1600. Her daughter's husband Sabu is suffering from pneumonia and is undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College. Her daughter Mani was a collection staff at a chit company.