Kalavati (Right) is the widow of CRPF 82 Battalion soldier H. Guru (Left), who was martyred in the Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019
Amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged illegal acquisition of house sites in Mysore by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah kins, a shocking development has come to light. While the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) officials are under fire for allegedly allotting crores worth of sites under the 50:50 sharing scheme, the wife of a Pulwama attack martyr has been left to struggle for a small plot that was rightfully hers.
The martyr’s widow, S Kalavati, has been making rounds of the MUDA office, pleading for a plot of land that the government had promised her in recognition of her husband’s supreme sacrifice. Despite her persistent efforts, she has been met with delays and indifference from the authorities, who issued her a note stating that her request would be considered in the next allotment round. This round, however, has been repeatedly delayed, with five years since the assurance was first given.
Kalavati is the widow of CRPF 82 Battalion soldier H. Guru, who was martyred in the Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019. Following his death, the Central Soldiers’ Board, Department of Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare and Rehabilitation, recommended that she be allotted a free plot of land to build a house. Despite this, MUDA has failed to honour the recommendation, leading to widespread outrage over the treatment of a war hero’s family.
Kalavati, a resident of Maddur taluk in Mandya, has made numerous visits to the MUDA office. She submitted letters on October 11, 2021, June 6, 2022, and June 29, 2022, each time attaching the necessary documents and pleading for a speedy resolution. However, her requests have been ignored, and the promised plot must still be within reach.
MUDA’s refusal to act on Kalavati’s request violates a Government order issued in 2000. The order mandates that urban development authorities across the state allot free sites to the dependents of soldiers and officers who have sacrificed their lives for the nation. According to the order, dependents of commissioned officers who die in war or similar circumstances are entitled to a 40×60 site, while non-commissioned officers like Guru are entitled to a 30×40 site. The central government issued a similar order in 1971.
In response to Kalavati’s plea, Brigadier (Retd) Ravi Muniswamy, Director of the Ex-Servicemen Welfare and Rehabilitation Department at the Bangalore Central Soldier Board, sent a letter to the MUDA Commissioner on January 29, 2020, urging them to allot Kalavati a free plot on merit. Despite this official correspondence, her request has remained unresolved.
After several follow-ups, MUDA’s Special Tehsildar for Zone 4 requested additional documents from Kalavati on July 13, 2022, including her late husband’s pension records, death certificate, and proof of residence. Kalavati promptly provided all the necessary documents, and on October 31, 2022, the Special Tehsildar noted in the file that her application for a free site would be prioritised in the next plot allotment. However, no plot has been sanctioned to date.
This neglect has sparked outrage, primarily as MUDA allocates thousands of plots under the controversial 50:50 ratio scheme. The public is calling for immediate action to address Kalavati’s case and ensure that the families of war heroes are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.
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