The Hindu : Plea to give Adivasis a fair deal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 04, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Plea to give Adivasis a fair deal

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA March 3. The basic human issue in connection with the Muthanga incidents is whether the living victims of the incidents, who are yet to be identified, and those temporarily sheltered at a pre-metric hostel after being released from prison, deserve any measure of relief and rehabilitation, the veteran trade union activist and CPI leader, M. Sukumara Pillai, has said.

Talking to The Hindu, Mr. Pillai says the Government could simply disown the responsibility on the plea of the Adivasis' alleged coercive occupation of the wildlife sanctuary and the reported violent confrontation with the police.

A judicial inquiry into the Muthanga incidents has been the central point of debate at all levels and of course, a judicial probe becomes essential to unearth the circumstances that led to the police action and the alleged carnage, says Mr Pillai. However, he alleges that the inaction and silence on the part of various non-Governmental organisations (NGOs), human rights protection bodies and the so-called intellectuals, who have been shedding `tears' for the illiterate, voiceless sections of society, are conspicuous. Mr Pillai also alleges that the `usurper settlers' who are in command in Wayanad are reluctant to engage the tribal victims for work and are branding them as `extremists'. The community is bereft of means to eke out their livelihood.

Their plight needs to be handled with empathy and humane consideration by voluntary agencies, if any, which are dedicated to such causes, says Mr Pillai.

According to him, "the plight of the voiceless tribals in Wayanad is pathetic. They have nowhere to go. If they go back to the forests, the Government will oppose the move. If they occupy the plantations like Sugandhagiri and Pookode, as pointed out by the Agriculture Minister, K. R.Gouri, they will have to face the wrath of the trade unions. If they try to occupy their alienated land, they have to confront the mighty settlers.''

"It is a pity that our polticians too appear to have taken all possible steps to exploit the present volatile situation politically, by simply sidelining the real humane issues that are faced by the tribals, who constitute hardly one per cent of the State's population. Moreover they are politically weak, " he says.

Ironically, the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha leader, C.K. Janu, who have succeeded to some extent in taking up the sad plight of the tribals too have been brought under shade, leaving little room for the tribals to seek justice and get back their alienated land, Mr. Pillai adds.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Kerala HC declares MLA's oath invalid

Two held for forging loan sureties

Plea to give Adivasis a fair deal

Steps to combat water scarcity

Deposit drive by bank

S.N. Dharma Samajam under receiver rule

Teachers flay SSA fund misuse

Small dams mooted for reducing drought effect

CPI(M) march turns violent in Chathannur

Municipal chairperson, councillors arrested