The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Opposition members walk out alleging exploitation of Adivasis

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Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Opposition members walk out alleging exploitation of Adivasis

Special Correspondent

Accuse CPI(M)-led Adivasi Kshema Samithi of exploitation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) members walked out of the Assembly on Tuesday alleging exploitation of Adivasis at the Aralam farm by the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Adivasi Kshema Samiti.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy led his Opposition colleagues out of the House after taking the Government to task for having done nothing about the forcible purchase of cashew nuts produced by the Adivasi farmers of Aralam. He produced a receipt to show that the farmers were being forced to sell their produce at a lower price when they could fetch a higher price just outside the farm. He also took strong exception to the permission given to the Adivasi Kshema Samiti to operate two depots within the farm premises.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan strongly rebutted the Opposition charge and said the Government had handled the occupation of the farm by Adivasis with care because it did not want a repeat of the Muthanga incidents over there. The Government had already taken steps for distribution of the land forming part of the Aralam farm to Adivasi beneficiaries. It had so far received 6,591 applications for allotment of land and it had been decided by an all-party meeting convened in the district to give priority to Adivasis of Kannur when allotting the land, those from Wayanad being the next in line. Mr. Balakrishnan said steps were on to identify those most eligible to get the land. This was being done with the help of Kudumbasree units in the area and Adivasi `oorukkoottams.' The list of eligible families would be published on March 25.

Kodiyeri's pat for UDF

He said part of the credit for the progress made in the distribution of the Aralam farm land to Adivasis should go to the UDF as it was instrumental in securing the land from the Centre while in power. The Government proposed to notify the area under the recently enacted Central law on Scheduled Tribes so as to offer full protection to the Adivasis beneficiaries. The Government would ensure allotment of land to the really eligible, but will not show any leniency towards the big timers who had encroached on the farm area, the Minister said.

K. Sudhakaran (Congress), who sought leave for moving an adjournment on the issue, accused the Home Minister of having tried to evade the issue. The question that he had wanted to be discussed related to the intimidation of Adivasi dwellers of the Aralam farm by activists of the CPI(M)-led Adivasi Kshema Sabha. He said the Minister was trying to divert attention from the core issue.

Mr. Chandy endorsed his position and told the Home Minister that he had himself visited the farm on Saturday and found the charge to be true.

Although two complaints were filed with the local police in connection with intimidation and assault, no action was taken. The Opposition would fully support the Government bid to provide land to the landless tribals, but it could not agree with the plunder of the poor tribal's produce by the CPI(M)-led organisation's activists, Mr. Chandy said.

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