Reconstruction of the Hill Country

Photo courtesy of AFP This article examines the government’s relief and compensation mechanisms for the Malaiyaha Tamil community in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah from the historical context of their precarious land tenure. As the line rooms traditionally occupied by plantation workers lack legal documentation, the families are unable to meet the administrative requirements for proving home ownership. Consequently, affected families face obstacles in accessing essential assistance such as full house damage compensation, resettlement grants and loan schemes. This challenge exposes the connection between losses triggered by climate change and historical socio-economic oppression. There must be an immediate relaxation of…

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