Hundreds of tribespeople under the aegis of the Adivasi Kshema Samiti (AKS), a tribal outfit of the CPI(M) laid siege to the collectorate here on Monday raising a slew of demands including providing land to all landless tribespeople in the district.
Inaugurating the agitation CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat said that the Rs.50 crore package for the welfare of the Paniya and Adiya tribal people that had been announced in the State budget was a gimmick of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
It was announced only to grab a pie of Kerala’s tribal votes in the coming elections, she said.
Mr. Oommen Chandy was in hibernation for the past four-and-a-half years, Ms. Karat said.
The policies of the Centre and State governments put the life of tribespeople in peril, Ms. Karat said. When the former LDF government had disbursed land to more than 5,000 landless tribal families in the State, the UDF government was able to provide land only to 250 tribal families so far, she said.
The Modi government was trying to sabotage the Forest Rights Act (FRA), implemented by the former UPA government in 2006 after high pressure exercised by the left political parties on the government.
While the government was providing forest land for corporate companies on behalf of mining, tourism, townships and huge hydro-electrical projects, nearly 60 percent of applications of tribesmen for land under FRA were rejected without any reason, Ms. Karat said.
Ms. Karat also demanded one acre land for all landless tribal families and 35 kg of food grains a month to all tribal families, irrespective of BPL and APL consideration.
The protesters also demanded setting up of residential schools for tribal children in all grama panchayats, entry of the Paniaya, Oorali and Adiya tribal sects to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group and reservation of 17 percent of job opportunities to tribal youths.
