SC/ST Commission’s intervention helps get house pattas for 168 families in Coimbatore

The 35-year struggle of 168 families, mostly Arundhathiyars, in Coimbatore district to obtain house pattas has come to an end, with the State government issuing pattas under the Kalaignar Kanavu Illam (KKI) scheme. The orders were issued following directions from the second bench of the State SC/ST Commission, headed by Vice-Chairperson and Writer Imayam.

The Commission took up the issue after 30 families from Kulayygounden Puthur approached it in June 2025 seeking electricity connections.

“When the Commission inquired into their plea, officials said electricity connections could not be provided as the families did not have pattas. We took steps to secure pattas, which were issued on January 29, 2026. The Commission is grateful to Chief Minister M. K. Stalin for the swift action in ensuring pattas for poor people,” Mr. Imayam said.

While pursuing the matter, the Commission also directed the district administration to identify others in need of pattas. The district administration subsequently provided land to another 35 families from land under the control of the Bhoomidhana Variyam. These families are from Pogalur in Annur taluk of Coimbatore district.

A few of the beneficiaries, who had been living in temporary sheds, visited the Commission’s office in Chennai and received copies of the patta orders for house construction. The remaining beneficiaries will receive their pattas from the District Collector.

Another 103 families have been allotted land in Marudur village in Mettupalayam taluk. The beneficiaries include 67 families living in rented houses in Marudur village, 34 families residing on waterbody poramboke, and two families living on Railways and National Highways poramboke land. “The district administration will issue the pattas, possibly next week,” Mr. Imayam said.

He said the land in Marudur village had originally been donated to the Bhoodan Board by Kariyagounder in 1964. “Pattas were issued to eligible families after cancelling pattas granted earlier to ineligible occupants who had encroached upon Bhoodan Board land,” he explained.