http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=143811
'Kerala govt aiding corporate grab people's land' Focusing on the recent Chengara agitation the author attempts to get to the root cause of the issue. He traces the problem to the anomalies in the Land reforms undertaken by the then government. CJ: Alin P.Alexander KERALA HAS always occupied a paradoxical position within Indian politics. On one hand, with a record of having had the first democratically elected communist government in the world, it represents for many a progressive hope within an otherwise sectarian democracy. Equally, the statistics of literacy, health care, women's employment, along with a sex- ratio favoring women has attracted the attention of academicians and social activists. On the other hand, an equally visible set of indicators that is often ignored is the extent of violence. The first government of Kerala led by E.M. Shankaran Namboodirippad, came to power in 1957, with a promise of making Kerala, an egalitarian state. Communists are said to have unleashed a series of land-reform measures in Kerala, aimed at social and economic parity among its people. But one should also understand the anomalies in the nature of these measures. As Tomasson Jannuzi, an Italian economist observes, the reforms were not as conducive or as radical as they appeared to be. The reforms exempted the lands of state's plantation economy to preserve economies of scale in tea, coffee, and rubber plantations. This exemption limited the chances of giving viable economic holdings to larger number of tenant farmers and landless agriculture labourers. Moreover, while emphasizing on the slogan of "land to the tillers", the whole definition of tiller was flawed, as only those who assumed the risks of cultivation by providing the costs of production had the right for re-distributed land. This definition mitigates the rights of agriculturists who ploughed, planted, weeded and harvested crops. This had serious political-tactical implications, not to be scrutinized now. These falsehoods came into the front when an unschooled tribal woman, Ms.C.K. Janu and her Adivasi-Dalit agitation committee launched agitations against the state government. But, the very contradictory character of Left Front became evident at the recent Chengara agitation, where the communist government joined hands with the entrepreneurs, "Harisson Malayalam." Antecedents make it clear that the land on which the company is based is still enjoying the rights of a leasehold agreement, which expired way back in 1985. Since then the company hasn't yet paid any tax to the government. For the Dalits, it's a struggle to reclaim the ownership of the land, which has been assured to them by the government. Because of the agitation, around 5000 families (40000 people) are at bay. Harrison Malayalam Limited, its plantation workers union etc have been constantly blackmailing the Dalits. Now the party, which initiated the land reforms, joined hands with the capitalists and dealing with the Dalits in a very repressive manner, making it another Nandigram, unleashing reign of torture. Even women and children are not being spared. The agitators were subjected to a blockade of essential commodities, including medicines. Other Articles by Alin P.Alexander Caught in the clutches of dowry more >> The owners, CPM workers with the support of police have unleashed a series of violence. Men are ruthlessly assaulted, women are raped. Women and children are ready to set ablaze themselves and are carrying kerosene cans with them. Men have climbed up the trees, putting the loops around the neck, ready to end their lives. One of the observers, C.R.Neelakantan, opines that "the fight is against illegal encroachment of land that belongs to the people, by a corporate entity for commercial purposes, with the support of state machinery." The mistake which was committed when the reforms were implemented regurgitated and has opened a Pandora's Box to all the subsequent government. It should be a moral obligation of the CPM led government to solve the situation amicably rather deviating away from the long standing ideals, they stood by. Besides that, the humanitarian values expected out of a welfare state, which the Indian Constitution highlights, should also be taken into account.
