Nava Kerala March was in Ernakulam district for three days. It started at Angamally on 14th and ended at Kothamangalam on 17th. Then entered Idukki. The distance from Thodupuzha to Peerumedu with five reception centres had to be covered in a hurry. But explaining the objectives of the march cannot be avoided to the people who waited for long with enthusiasm for hours together.
The amount of expectation with which the people views this party is evident from the response we are getting to the issues we are discussing. Idukki is a district with some peculiarities. It is a land of migrant settlers. Migration here dates back to centuries. The settlement was of those who got right to land as part of various government programs, those who came for work in the hydro electric projects etc of which the history is long. The people migrated to this area in the background of the support of the government. It was the requirement of the government. Though some got right to the land allotted to them on migration, a considerable section of them could not acquire the right to the land they hold.
On different occassions, especially during the period of Congress governments, the settlers were evacuated widely in the name of various projects. They raised widespread protests against such evacuation. It was the communist movement which stood in front of such struggles. The heroic struggles of Amaravathi, Churuli and Keerithode in 1961 and 1963 lead by AKG were waged against such evacuation the settlers of Idukki. Followed by these struggles, the farmers got right to construction of houses and farming in these lands. Some farmers got alternate land allotted as a result of these struggles. 4000 families evacuated in 1963 were given land by the EMS government of 1967. As part of the land grab movement of 1969-70 under the leadership of AKG, farmers have occupied surplus land in Kumbanpara of Devikulam Taluk, Kompodinjali of Udumbanchola Taluk and other parts of the district and continue to live there.
In the year 1977, evacuation was stopped on the intervention of CPI(M) followed by the struggle conducted by Karshaka Sangham.
The land related problems of Idukki reveals the ambiguities in government declarations and regulations. This couldnot be reasonably settled due to the vested interests of revenue and forest authorities added to the above. As a result of this the real farmers, landless and Adivasis did not get their due title to the land. The threat of evacuation happened to be there against the small, medium and marginal farmers and those having 4 or 5 cents of land and even to the Adivasis staying in huts since half a century, all of whom struggle with the land for their existence. It is the poor who suffer the most.
Around 5000 families are to get title to the land in various colonies in Munnar panchayath. Same is the case with about 1000 families in areas including the town. Most of them are staying in plots of 4 or 5 cents. Farmers of panchayaths like Kanthallur, Marayur, Vattavada etc are also facing the same situation of absence of title to their land. Such problems are there in 60 villages of 48 panchayaths in 4 taluks of Idukki district. Not only that, 3672 public establishments are also involved. The total population of Idukki district is 11,35,000. 82000 families are due to get title to the land they hold. Out of this around ten thousand are Adivasis. Thus the land problem of Idukki has become a problem seriously affecting 6,20,000 people.
There are many cases of land held by highly rich and influential also. Such encroachments took place mainly during the UDF rule. Strong action is needed to get those land evacuated. The problems of Idukki district in general and Munnar area in particular was subjected to much discussion during these days.
The stand taken by CPI(M) is that action is required taking into account the complexity of the land issue of Idukki as a whole. While resorting to such action, it has to be conceded that the poor shall have the right to continue to live there. At the same time action has to be such that no body's greed is allowed to be perpetuated.
The existence and protection of forest land, Cardamom and such other plantations etc are very important. Action on the part of the government is required to get the adverse court orders reviewed in in respect of title deed to their land in favour of the farmers of high ranges of Idukki. The lease deed has to be renewed for those who are engaged in cardamom plantation on leased land in High Ranges.
The problems of those who are living in catchment areas of the dams from the days of construction of the dams has to be addressed taking into account the security of the dam among others. The cases of fraudulent title to the land has to be enquired into in detail and deserving are to be protected taking into account the period of such title and extend of such holdings.
Action shall be there to take back the land from large scale land grabbers and to distribute that among those who deserve. The surplus land with the Tata has to be taken over and distributed among the Adivasis, plantation labourers and the landless. Action has to be taken to confer the title to the land to all deserving among the small traders and small holders and landless who stay there and the residents of the colony.
CPI(M) is a movement which stand for the protection of the interest of the main stay of the society. Party has put forward the solution taking into account of their interest. The massive participation of the people of Idukki in the Nava Kerala March makes it clear that they support the stand taken by the party.
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