Strangers on Their Own Land: The Struggle of Unnathi’s Tribal Families for Home and Justice in Palakkad

Seventeen tribal families in Kombamkundu Unnathi, Palakkad, face the threat of losing their homes due to the absence of proper land ownership documents and title deeds, a situation rooted in decades-old legal and bureaucratic hurdles. These families, who have lived on the land for more than fifty years, do not possess pattayam (title deed), partly because the ownership is entangled in a michabhoomi (residue land) case, keeping them from receiving essential government benefits or aid for house repairs and maintenance.

The Crisis in Unnathi

• Residents’ Vulnerability: The houses in Unnathi, constructed years ago, are now in a dilapidated state, with some at risk of collapse, posing a direct danger to inhabitants including children and infants.

• Legal Limbo: Due to the unresolved status of the land officially being residue land the local panchayat is unable to grant funds for maintenance or approve new housing projects, leaving families with crumbling shelters and no state support.

• Displacement Risk: If the ongoing legal dispute is resolved unfavorably for the government, the tribals could be forcibly evicted, further compounding their insecurity.

Struggle and Appeals

• Plea to Authorities: The affected families have written to Minister K Rajan, requesting either the distribution of ownership certificates or permanent relocation to land with clear legal title.

• Ministerial Promise: Minister Rajan, recognizing the gravity of the situation, has promised to intervene and seek a favorable resolution for the families.

• Similar Ongoing Battles: Across Kerala, numerous tribal communities continue to fight for land rights, facing delays, bureaucratic hurdles, and systemic inertia. Even in cases where pattayam is granted, actual ownership and basic rights like paying land tax can be denied due to incomplete administrative procedures.

Larger Context of Tribal Land Rights

• Wider Pattern of Alienation: The predicament in Unnathi is emblematic of a broader issue wherein tribal communities in Kerala and neighboring states suffer due to the lack of ownership documentation, complicated by historical land transfers and ongoing land alienation.

• Administrative Challenges: Government schemes and interventions, although made occasionally, struggle against a backdrop of slow-moving legal and revenue departments. Achieving actual security and recognition of tenure often takes decades, as illustrated by the long waits in other districts like Nelliyampathy and Olakara.

• Legacy of Struggles: Many tribal communities only find relief after years of protest or direct appeals to ministers, highlighting both the resilience of these groups and the persistent gaps in the implementation of land reforms and rights.

What’s Next for Unnathi

• Hope from Government: The minister’s assurance offers a glimmer of hope, but unless bureaucratic bottlenecks are overcome and legal clarity is established, the fundamental right to secure and dignified housing for Unnathi’s tribal families remains at risk.

• Critical Need: The situation demands swift government action either by resolving the michabhoomi case in favor of the families or relocating them to land where title deeds can be provided to ensure their safety, stability, and access to development opportunities.

This unfolding crisis in Unnathi throws a spotlight on the urgent need for effective policy measures, timely administrative responses, and empathetic governance to protect the rights and well-being of Kerala’s tribal communities.

Read more at: https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2025/08/25/unnathi-tribal-land-pattayam.html