For P. Chandrakala, an Irula woman from Sengodi (Red flag) village near Kothattai in Cuddalore district, owning a proper house was a distant dream. She had spent 11 years living with her family in a simple thatched hut on land that had been rightfully restored to her.
Even when Chandrakala and other Irula families received land ownership documents (house site pattas) from the State government in 2014 under a housing scheme, her dream remained unfulfilled. These families faced a significant challenge: their allocated 1.25 acres of land had allegedly been illegally taken over by neighbors from a more backward class community, a clear violation of existing laws.
Their difficult situation finally gained public attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) visited Sengodi village (then known as Vaickalmedu) to distribute essential relief supplies. Witnessing the injustice, they initiated a determined campaign. Following a persistent struggle, these families successfully reclaimed their land and began the process of building their new homes.
While Sengodi village is home to more than 11 Irula families, only four, including Chandrakala’s, have managed to construct houses on their recovered plots so far. The remaining families continue their unwavering efforts to secure their own house site pattas.
A Journey of Perseverance
S.G. Ramesh Babu, a CPI(M) State committee member, explained that the fight for these homes truly began in 2021. He recalled that back in 2014, seven families were initially promised houses under the Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) by the district administration. However, despite being allotted three cents of land each, their homes were mistakenly built on an adjacent canal-side area, wrongly classified as eri poramboke, instead of the land originally designated for them. This error caused them continued suffering through no fault of their own.
Mr. Ramesh Babu highlighted the precarious condition of these seven houses, built on the eri poramboke, which are now dilapidated and pose a serious risk to the families living there. He emphasized that the fundamental issue stemmed from constructing houses on this inappropriate land. When the CPI(M) proposed new housing for all 11 families to the government, they faced initial resistance.
Officials argued that the seven families had already received IAY houses and were therefore ineligible for new allotments. Compounding the problem, the land originally meant for them had also been unlawfully seized by neighbors.
Undeterred, these families, supported by the CPI(M), launched a prolonged and resolute campaign to reclaim their rightful land, ultimately achieving success through their persistent protests.
Hope on the Horizon
The housing project received official approval from the then Project Director of the District Rural Development Agency in March 2024. Today, four families have successfully completed and moved into their new homes under the Comprehensive Tribal Development Programme (CTDP), celebrating their inauguration on June 22, 2025. The typical cost for each house unit is ₹4.62 lakh, offering a comfortable space of approximately 300 sq.ft.
For women like Ranjitha and Durga, who earn their livelihoods through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS), the prospect of spending their entire lives in temporary thatched huts seemed inevitable.
“This is truly a dream realized,” shared Ms. Ranjitha. She noted that Sengodi village, with its 25 families, largely lives day-to-day through various odd jobs. “We earnestly hope that the remaining seven families will also soon receive their house sites and land ownership documents.”
Mr. Ramesh Babu added that Cuddalore district faces numerous similar challenges, including the need for affordable housing and issues with community certificates. He urged authorities to act swiftly, intervene directly, and ensure these crucial demands are met without further delay.