Kerala minister says welfare benefits are constitutional rights

Kerala Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes K.A. Thulasi has said government welfare and development benefits are constitutional rights, not acts of charity. Speaking at a function in Attappady, the Minister said schemes should reach eligible beneficiaries in a timely and transparent manner.

She said nearly 12,000 pending applications had been settled during the first phase of a file adalat, in which officials were deployed to clear long-standing cases. A second phase of the exercise would be held soon, Thulasi said. Applications would be examined properly and eligible benefits provided without delay.

She also said her department would directly implement a housing scheme announced in the State budget. Houses would be built for tribal families who already own land, while a separate scheme would provide both land and houses to landless families. Thulasi said the Tribal Arts Learning Centre in Attappady would be completed on schedule.

She added that preliminary work had begun on a proposed Tribal University in Wayanad, which would offer courses aimed at preserving tribal languages, culture, traditional medicine and food practices. During the function, the Minister inaugurated a pre-metric hostel for girls at Sholayur and an online portal under the Forest Rights Act. The portal is intended to protect documents issued to tribal families and improve coordination between departments.

Community halls at Kuppan hamlet in Mulli, Nanjan hamlet in Sholayur and Mele Abbanur in Puthur were also inaugurated. The Sholayur tribal extension office was converted into a smart office, and a new official vehicle for the Tribal Development Office at Palakkad was flagged off. General Education Minister N.

Shamsudheen, who presided virtually, said development and infrastructure projects would continue in Attappady. He said improved hostel facilities would support student safety and provide a better learning environment. The function was held at the Cooperative Farming Society Hall at Vattalakki in Attappady.