Kerala - Kannur   

Plea to stop Aralam eviction

KANNUR: The Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha (AGM) has called upon the authorities to stop the eviction of Adivasis from the Aralam farm.

AGM president C.K. Janu and convener M. Geethanandan said at a press conference here on Monday that the authorities had decided to stop rehabilitation (of Adivasis) in the district when applications of over 5,000 landless tribespeople were pending with the government.

The rehabilitation was stopped as a major portion of the farmland, transferred by the Centre for the purpose, had been ‘handed over to a private company,' they said.

They said the ongoing eviction of Adivasis from the farm was contrary to the assurance given by the District Collector at an all-party meeting held as part of the third-phase assignment of land to Adivasis.

The family properties of Adivasis were not considered in the first phase of rehabilitation. In the second phase, those possessing up to 22 cents of land each were included as beneficiaries. The third phase saw the rehabilitation of 297 Adivasis who possessed no land.

Ms. Janu and Mr. Geethanandan said the authorities had not followed a fair and scientific criterion for selecting beneficiaries.

Court order

The Supreme Court had ordered the confiscation of land in unauthorised possession individuals. The government is yet to take any action, they said. The AGM would stage a protest in front of the Collectorate here on February 24, they said.

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Plea to stop Aralam eviction

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