Vilangad landslide washed away the lifeline of a large tribal community in Kozhikode

Kozhikode: Several houses, bridges and roads were washed away; Mathew Kalathinkal, a retired teacher, died after saving many; other residents lost their livelihood and valuables -- this is the general picture in Vilangad, a hilly area in Kozhikode, which was hit by a landslide on July 30, the same day when fatal landslides shook Wayanad.
Among the buildings razed by the boulders was a Tribal Co-operative Society that offered a lifeline for tribal communities in Kozhikode district.

Now, only a small portion of the building remains and the society has reported a loss of Rs 38 lakh. Forest produce, including honey, frankincense and 'padakkizhangu' (patha root), a medicinal plant, washed away in the landslide were worth over Rs 10 lakh, officials said. They were collected from a tribal community comprising about 2,000 members, from the hilly regions of Urutty, Panniyeri, Madanchery, Kuttalloor, Chittary and Valamthodu in the Vanimal panchayat.

At least 3.5 cents of the 10-cent property on which the society's building stood, is gone. The reported damages include 1,400 kg of honey (vanthen) that cost approximately Rs 7.7 lakh (550/kg), 410 kg of frankincense and 200 kg of patha root. The stock of frankincense lost to the landslide cost Rs 1.23 lakh (Rs 300/kg) and the patha root were worth Rs 1.1 lakh. An eco shop that functioned in the building was also washed away, and retail goods worth Rs 18,000 were lost, S.

A large quantity of 'shikkakai', an Ayurvedic herb, was also among the produce stored at the society's godown. Fortunately for them, 1,500 kg of it were already collected by buyers. The society managed to recover 400 kg of 'vanthen' and 15 kg of 'cheruthen' (two types of honey). However, freshly installed machinery, including one for making incense sticks from frankincense, was washed away.

"The tribal community will face a problem from next year," said P P Nijeesh, secretary of the society. "We may not be able to collect produce from them as there is no fund left and this will affect them badly because selling forest produce is their main source of livelihood."

A lifeline for 45 years
The society has collected forest produce from tribespeople since its inception in 1979. The office bearers said they pay the tribespeople 80 per cent of the market value. Due to mobility issues, the produce was stored in the society's godown at the same place. The goods were sold through tender under the Kerala State Federation of SC/ST Development Co-operatives Ltd, which markets forest produce.

According society officials, big companies, including makers of Ayurvedic products, from different parts of the country buy the produce through auction.

"We have already paid the prices of the produce to the collectors. We spent almost all of our money. Only Rs 40,000 is left in the society's bank account. Now, we have lost the building and land," Secretary Nijeesh said. The society has approached different state departments seeking compensation.