‘Operation Smile’ expanded to cover all ST communities in Kasaragod

The district administration has decided to extend Operation Smile, a project launched to secure land ownership rights for the Koraga community, to cover all Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. The initiative led by District Collector K. Inbasekar aims to resolve long-pending land-related issues and ensure unhindered access for ST communities to government welfare schemes.

Special review meetings were held across all taluks to assess the progress of the project. The Scheduled Tribe Development department and the Revenue department are jointly overseeing the initiative. The total ST population in the district stands at 83,867, of whom 981 individuals have already been included as beneficiaries under ‘Operation Smile’.

In Kasaragod and Manjeswaram taluks, 1,760 people from the Koraga community have been covered so far. Land surveys have been completed for all 539 families. Of them, 155 families have already received title deeds, while land belonging to 158 families has been measured and assessed. Applications for land titles have been submitted by 147 families, and certified copies have been issued to 17 beneficiaries.

The project activities are currently underway on 478 acres of land spread across 59 Koraga colonies in Kasaragod and Manjeswaram taluks. Officials said that once land ownership is formally established, beneficiaries will be able to access all government benefits, including housing schemes, without procedural hurdles.