Alappuzha: A woman and her son are facing severe hardship after being left without any access route to their home, following the fencing of surrounding properties by neighbouring landowners. Belonging to a Scheduled Caste community, the family now struggles even to step outside their house, bringing attention to a long-standing issue that has continued for years despite repeated complaints to authorities.

Living conditions worsen in isolation

The family lives in Ward 13 of Chingoli grama panchayat in Harippad. The house stands on three cents of marshy land and consists of a single room, along with a kitchen that does not have a roof. The residents are 48-year-old C Sudha and her 24-year-old son Sachu, who now remain confined within fenced boundaries on all sides.

There is a small canal near their home. With all surrounding plots fenced, Sudha and her son now manage to leave the property by squeezing through gaps between the fence wires. During summer, the absence of water in the canal makes it slightly easier to pass through.

Sudha earns her livelihood through household work, while Sachu is employed as a temporary security guard at NTPC.

Everyday services disrupted

Due to lack of proper access, visitors rarely come to the house. During elections, those seeking votes asked Sudha to come near the fence to interact with them.

Essential services are also affected. The postman does not deliver letters to the house and instead calls them to collect it from the roadside.

Similarly, the electricity meter reader does not visit the property and provides an estimated bill over the phone. Gas cylinders are left in a nearby plot, with the delivery person informing the family by phone.

Medical emergency exposes hardship

Around a month ago, Sudha fell seriously ill. To take her to hospital, Sachu had to make her lie on a sheet, pull her under the fence, and move her across to the other side.

The situation becomes more difficult during the rainy season, when water from nearby plots flows into their land, flooding the house even during a single spell of rain. The area is also prone to snakes.

The land was purchased and provided to Sudha by the Chingoli grama panchayat in 2003 for Rs 19,500. At the time, there was a pathway leading to the property, but it was not included in the official documents.

Sudha later approached the court claiming access rights to the path. However, none of the neighbours agreed to testify that the pathway existed. The landowner who won the case constructed a wall, blocking the route. When Sudha tried to access the property from other sides, those too were closed off with fences by neighbouring landowners.

Sudha said she has been submitting complaints since 2006 to several authorities, including the Chief Minister, MLA, Collector, Tehsildar, and panchayat officials, but no action has been taken. Recently, a promoter from the Scheduled Caste department visited the site, took photographs, and left, but there has been no outcome.

She said the situation has caused her deep distress and that she has even thought about ending her life.

Ward member A Sajan said that there had originally been a pathway to the land given to Sudha, but it was later blocked with a wall. He added that discussions are ongoing with one of the households that closed the path, and expressed hope that a solution would be reached.