21-05-2025
Disaster management awareness programme held at Meppadi in Wayanad
T. Siddique, MLA, inaugurated 'Karuthal', a disaster management awareness programme for workers of Harrisons Malayalam Sentinel Rock Estate at Meppadi in Wayanad on Wednesday (May 21, 2025). The programme also included awareness sessions, an introduction to self-employment schemes, and the distribution of aid to families of those who lost their lives in the landslides last year.
Estate officials said they had provided benefits such as gratuity until retirement, funeral expenses, accommodation for over 100 families in other estates, alternative employment for workers at the Vellarmala estate of HML, and a kit of essential items upon their return from rehabilitation camps. Besides, assistance worth ₹3.14 crore was provided to the families of 33 employees who lost their lives in the landslides. Efforts were under way to compensate the remaining eight families, Vinod Kumar, head of human resources at the estate, added.
Sessions were organised by the District Disaster Management Authority, the Fire and Rescue Services department, and the district medical team. HML chief executive officer Cheriyan M. George and trade union leaders were present.
