Estate layams in pitiable condition: Idukki collector

Idukki: The condition of the tea estate layams (cluster of workers’ quarters) in the district is terrible and the living conditions of the workers are very pitiable . The district collector H Dineshan will submit a detailed report on the conditions of layams to the government soon.

“The workers staying in tea estate layams live in very poor conditions.

The companies do not conduct maintenance or other services. Most layams are over 50 years old and not suitable for living,” Dineshan said.

“As per primary estimate, over 10,000 people were staying in layams of Kannan Devan Hills Plantation (KDHP). The ownership of the layams are the name of companies, so the workers can’t conduct any maintenance work without permission from the company,” said the collector.

“The pathetic condition of layams in Pettimudy caused them to be washed away immediately. State government distributed over 2 lakh homes under the Life mission housing project. But not a single estate worker family is eligible to apply for these homes as they have no land in their own names,” the collector added.

“Hundreds of families stay in these narrow-spaced layams. Most of them have no basic facilities. The conditions of layams of other companies are worse,” said Dineshan.

“I will collect the details on layams and people living there and submit a detailed report to the government soon,” said the collector.