Adivasis to intensify agitation

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT. 25. The conference of representatives of tribal organisations convened by the Chief Minister, Mr. A. K. Antony, here on Tuesday failed to arrive at an agreement on major issues behind the agitation by the tribals.

After the conference, Ms. C. K. Janu, of Action Council of Dalits and Adivasis, said the Government had actually gone back on its promises made at the last conference. So, the agitation would be intensified. A `parliament' of Adivasi leaders and Dalits would be convened here on Oct. 3 in which the leaders of various tribal organisations and chieftains of tribals would attend.

The Chief Minister told presspersons those issues that had been remaining unsolved for years could not be solved all of a sudden though he was hopeful of an amicable solution. He said the Government was proposing to provide more land than the one acre specified in the 1999 Act. One acre was the minimum. Wherever land was available, more land would be allocated.

He said detailed discussions would be held by the Forest Minister with all concerned before deciding whether the collection of minor forest products by the tribals should be done through the tribal societies or through forest protection councils.

The Finance Minister and the Minister for Scheduled Castes and Tribes Development would hold discussions on the modalities for allocation of 90 per cent of menial jobs under the Forest Department to tribals. Steps, he said, would be taken to fill vacant posts in schools and hospitals in tribal areas.

A Cabinet sub-committee, chaired by the Chief Minister, would address problems of tribals from time to time. Debt relief would be extended to the tribals through the proposed legislation.

There were discordant notes at the beginning of the conference itself over whether some of those who were invited to the conference were representatives of tribals. Out of the more than 60 persons who attended the conference, the majority belonged to tribal wings of political parties such as the Congress, CPI(M) and the BJP. The members of the Assembly Committee for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes also attended the conference.

Ms. Janu told presspersons that though the Government had promised some land, it had not specified where and when that would be provided. Besides the Chief Minister, who had announced after the Collector's Conference last week that 15,000 acres would be identified for distribution to tribals, he spoke of only 10,000 acres at this conference.

She said that they would not return from their camps to the Secretariat until permanent solutions to their problems are found. The agitation, however, would be peaceful. She said the tribals would meet on Oct. 3 and even consider the declaration of their areas as scheduled areas if the Government failed to do so.

Dr. Nalla Thampi Thera, who has been fighting the case for restoration of alienated tribal lands before the courts, said the judiciary and the executive had not shown mercy. The Centre had not yet filed an affidavit in favour of the demands of the tribals before the Supreme Court. Nor had it directed the State Government to implement the 1975 Act passed by the Assembly.

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Section  : Southern States
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