A tribesperson from the Koraga community in front of his house at Manjeswaram, Kasaragod, Kerala. (file image) | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Koraga tribal community in Kerala set to receive land titles under Operation Smile project

Initiative aimed at addressing longstanding issues of missing land documents and undefined boundaries, which have hindered Koraga community’s access to government housing schemes and left their lands uncultivated and forest-covered

by · The Hindu

The Revenue department in Kerala, utilising the corpus fund of the Scheduled Tribes Development department, has initiated steps to provide land titles (patta) to the Koraga community, a scheduled tribe (ST) group in Kasaragod and Manjeswaram taluks. The initiative comes under a project called Operation Smile.

Kasaragod District Collector K. Inbasekar has directed officials from the Scheduled Tribes Development and Survey departments to measure and demarcate 193.557 hectares of land spanning 59 colonies across 16 villages. This includes ensuring proper documentation and transferring land ownership of deceased titleholders to their heirs.

The Collector said the initiative is aimed at addressing longstanding issues of missing land documents and undefined boundaries, which have hindered the Koraga community’s access to government housing schemes and left their lands uncultivated and forest-covered.

The Koraga population in the district totals 1,706 individuals across 539 families. Despite owning land, their socio-economic progress has been impeded due to the lack of clear titles and access to benefits.

Operation Smile will involve surveyors and officers from the gram panchayat, tribal extensions and village offices, as well as community elders and promoters.

Mr. Inbasekar said the district administration plans to complete the project within three months.

The initiative will be overseen by District Planning Officer T. Rajesh, District Survey Assistant Director Asif Aliyar, Kasaragod Tribal Development Officer K.K. Mohandas, and Assistant Tribal Development Officer K.V. Raghavan.

Revenue Minister K. Rajan will inaugurate Operation Smile on November 30, 2024 at the Collectorate Conference Hall, with Scheduled Tribes Development Minister O.R. Kelu presiding. Local MLAs will also attend the event.

Published - November 28, 2024 02:03 pm IST