Keralam government seeks report as around 150 community kitchens in Attappady shut

SC/ST and Backward Classes Welfare Minister K.A. Thulasi addressing a meeting of government officials and people’s representatives in Attappady on Monday. Only 28 of the more than 180 community kitchens that once operated in the tribal settlements of Attappady in Palakkad, are currently functioning, prompting the Keralam government to seek a report on their status and steps to reopen those that have shut down.K.A. Thulasi, Minister for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, has directed the Kudumbashree coordinator to submit the report within a week.The Minister also directed officials to ensure that no community kitchen was forced to stop operations because of unpaid bills. She asked that bills be submitted every three months instead of once a year to avoid delays in payments.Ms. Thulasi addressed a meeting of elected representatives and officials at Anakatti, Attappady, on the health and welfare of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children in Attappady.The Minister also directed officials to speed up ongoing drinking water projects in the district amid a sharp fall in rainfall this year. A review meeting on the region’s drinking water situation would be held within two weeks, she said.Land surveyShe ordered a detailed inquiry into allegations of tribal land being taken over by others in Attappady. Steps would also be taken to complete pending land surveys.The issue of people who had received land titles but had not been given possession of the land would be brought to the attention of the Revenue Minister, Ms. Thulasi said.She also directed that a coordination committee of various departments, headed by the Subcollector, meet every three months to review development and welfare programmes in Attappady.V.K. Sreekandan, MP; Subcollector Anjith Singh; Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) officer for Attappady Suresh Kumar; local body representatives; and district-level officials attended the meeting. Published - October 05, 2026 07:35 pm IST