The Kerala Land Revenue Staff Association (KLRSA), on Friday, called for a thorough investigation into the reasons behind the suicide of a farmer at Chembanoda village office in Chakkittappara panchayat recently.
KLRSA leaders alleged that the whole issue was “misinterpreted” by the public and the media after putting the blame on the revenue officials who actually worked under government rules and regulations.
In a press release, KLSA district president K.P. Abdurahiman and secretary R. Prasanth said the family dispute over the farmer’s property was a known issue in the case and it was not probed in detail. Arresting revenue officers alone on the charges of abetment of suicide without looking into such facts would only demoralise them, they claimed.
The association leaders, who also sought legal aid from the government for the two arrested officers in the case, pointed out that the revenue offices in Kerala were functioning with a skeletal staff and poor facilities. They also said most of the offices were burdened with additional duties related to local election, senses and various relief activities.
“We need a healthy ambiance in revenue office to work fearlessly and complying with the rules and regulations. If the government fails to ensure it, we will be compelled to launch a district-wide agitation,” Mr. Abdurahiman said.
Farmers’ demand
Meanwhile, the Hillside Farmers Action Committee, on Friday, called upon the district administration to effectively intervene in the land tax collection issue and avert more farmer suicides. Though the State government had issued five orders in support of the farmers’ demand, the revenue officials in various village offices were ignoring them, the committee alleged.
O.D. Thomas, convener of the action committee, said the farmers whose land taxes were not accepted were suffering a lot as could not apply for any bank loan for farming or sell off their property. They were also denied all the supportive aids from the government citing the land tax issue, he claimed.
