The Chembanoda village office witnessed stormy scenes on Saturday as Muslim Youth League (MYL) activists tried to block Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) P.H. Kurian.
Mr. Kurian had visited the village office for discussions with District Collector U.V. Jose and revenue officers on measures initiated to address farmers’ grievances after the suicide of Kavilpurayidathil Joy, a settler farmer from Chakkittappara grama panchayat.
The MYL workers alleged that the local MLA and Minister for Excise T.P. Ramakrishnan did not even visit the village office or console the bereaved family.
A government that was keen on renewing licences for bar hotels and granite quarries had failed to sense farmers’ turmoil, they said.
Seven booked
The protesters, who tried to barge into the village office, were later taken into custody by the Peruvannamoozhi police. Seven of them were later booked under Section 151 (arrest to prevent commission of cognizable offences) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Activists of We Farm, a settler farmers’ movement, also took out a march to the village office during the visit of Mr. Kurian, seeking fast completion of pending resurvey work in Chakkittappara, Chembanoda, and Koorachundu villages and the settlement of technical issues that prevented farmers from remitting their land tax. They also sought a thorough review of all Revenue Department actions that unlawfully classified farmland as Ecologically Fragile Land (ESL) for troubling farmers.
Complaints received
Meanwhile, Mr. Kurian, during his sitting in the village, interacted with more than 100 farmers and accepted their land-related complaints in file for quick resolution. Mr. Jose and taluk-level officers were present during the sitting. Mr. Kurian also visited the house of the deceased farmer.
Hearing of the Additional Chief Secretary’s visit, a large number of farmers came to the spot. Leaders of farmers’ organisations said the sitting was fruitful as they could submit their grievances.
Jijo Thomas, a leader of We Farm, said the organisation managed to convince the authorities of the immediate requirements of settler farmers in the area.
