Kerala: Tribal Woman Taken For Burial In Auto, CPM MP Says 'Failure Was At Lower Level, Not By Minister'

The village panchayat president, Ahammed Kutty, stated that he had informed the tribal development department in advance about the need for an ambulance.

CPI(M) MP and former Kerala Minister K Radhakrishnan on Tuesday said that the lack of an ambulance to transport a tribal woman’s body in Wayanad was a result of the failure on the part of "lower-level officials". He said that appropriate action would be taken against those responsible for the lapse.

On Monday, visuals surfaced of Chundamma, an 80-year-old tribal woman from Veettichaal settlement in Edavaka Panchayat being transported to the crematorium in an autorickshaw. The body, wrapped in a bedsheet, was taken 3.5 km to the burial ground after the family reportedly waited for hours for an ambulance.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Radhakrishnan said, as per PTI, "The state government will intervene effectively in the matter. Appropriate action will be taken against those who failed to perform their duties. The alleged failure was at the lower level, not by the minister." 

Radhakrishnan alleged that the Ministry for Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, a portfolio that he previously held, cannot be blamed in the matter.

Chundamma, who had been suffering from a prolonged illness, passed away at her home on Sunday night. The village panchayat president, Ahammed Kutty, stated that he had informed the tribal development department in advance about the need for an ambulance. However, despite the request, the ambulance did not arrive until 4 PM the next day. Following this, the family transported the body of the woman in an autorickshaw.

Meanwhile, the incident triggered protests in Wayanad. The tribal leaders and locals alleged negligence of the tribal development department. Members of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) blockaded the tribal development office in Mananthavady, demanding accountability and action against the officials responsible.

In response, the tribal department is reportedly considering action against the local tribal promoter for the lapses, as per a report on Times of India. Tribal leaders have also called for systemic changes to ensure that such incidents do not recur.