A considerable section of those who participated in the reception meeting at Mananthavady in Wynad district were Adivasi. Scheduled castes and and tribes including Adivasi with their traditional dress and art forms have participated all through the march. The sentiments with which they came forward was that red flag and the communist movement is their only savior. Though there are rules and provisions in the constitution regarding the security of dalit sections of the people, they do not reflect in the social life in India. Their problems cannot be solved by formal legal provisions of security alone. On the contrary, social intervention is much important. The large scale reception to the Nava Kerala March in the areas thickly populated by scheduled castes and tribes reveals that the actions and intervention of the CPI(M) with this understanding has brought much changes.
According to the 2001 census, the population of scheduled tribes in the state is 3,64,189. There are 80,000 schedule tribe families spread over 4082 colonies or localities. Out of these 25,000 families are not having house to live in. 20,000 are having no land. 2039 colonies are to be electrified and 1065 are to be provided with drinking water. Number of scheduled castes in the state is 31,23,941 as per the 2001 census. Out of these 53,833 are homeless and 45362 are landless. They are unable to reach the level of the mainstream even in literacy. It is to be identified that it is the scheduled tribes who constitute 94% of those who still continue to be illiterate in the state which has attained total literacy.
It is doubtful whether the scheduled castes and tribes could be provided with land due to them despite the land reforms and ending the feudalism. Even after implementation of land reforms, the situation is such that the adivasi sections are not having any right over the land they hold. This happened due to the controls over the transfer of forest land where they are living. The new central legislation on Forest land is a solution for this problem. As part of this act it is in Kerala that the land distribution is taken up first.
The ownership of land among scheduled sections are continuing to be nominal. Only 3% among the scheduled sections are classified as farmers. The average holding of land among them is only 9 cents. Dalits whose entire family members happened to be cultivating the land held by the feudal land lord for generations were denied the right to the land they cultivated as they were considered as mere occupants and not included in the purview of tenants having right to cultivate the land in the land reform act. When the tenants who were middlemen became owners of land the scheduled sections continued to be agricultural labourers. Today even their identity as agricultural workers is being lost. The present situation in which scheduled caste and tribes are being tied up to the agricultural and agricultural related sectors considerably affects their social mobility. The ruin of traditional sectors and the lack of corresponding opening up of job opportunities in new areas creates much hurdles to the social advancement of these schections.
The intervention of CPI(M) is taking into account all these factors. As part of this the LDF government is showing special interest and enthusiasm in this area. The government has given high priority for solving the housing problem faced by SC and ST people. Around 25,000 houses could be completed and distributed among these sections, during the last two years. Special scheme for housing for scheduled castes is being implemented. The assistance for purchase of land has been raised from Rs. 25,000 to Rs.45,000 in panchayath areas, from Rs.27,500 to Rs.50,000 in municipal areas and from Rs.30,000 to Rs.60,000 in corporation areas.
In Kerala child centric curriculum development program was implemented in the year 1998. This has contributed to bring about much improvement in the academic level among the children of scheduled sections. It was able to achieve the level of 28,000 students reaching the 10th standard out of the 30,000 who joined the 1st standard. When the percentage of success in the last SSLC exam was raised to 92.6, students of scheduled castes and tribes were the one who benefited maximum. It was able to correct the notion that the students of these sections are destined to fail and cultivate confidence in them that they too can pass the school exam and avail higher education. Arreas of educational assistance of Rs. 44 Crores accumulated by the previous UDF government was cleared and is, now, being paid at the begining of the current year itself. Educational allowances of students of scheduled sections was increased by 50%, now, after a period of 6 years.
Almost all the traditional industries, in which scheduled sections are engaged, are in crisis due to the market centric policies. But the renovation of many scheduled caste and scheduled tribe co-operatives have been taken up by the government as a policy. Through this the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in these areas could be ensured work. Special batches for scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students have been started in 12 ITIs in addition to the 41 ITCs under the control of SC-ST welfare department to improve the trade expertise among these students. Scheme for making available farming land has been introduced. Action is being taken to make available atleast 25% of the surplus land to the scheduled sections.
Comprehensive health care scheme has been introduced at a cost of Rs. 10 crores for scheduled sections to have free treatment right from primary health centres to super specialist hospitals including the medical colleges. Care has been taken to extend basic amenities in the colonies. 86% of houses are electrified in Kerala.
Government has intervened to distribute land for Adivasi. Already land has been distributed to around 10,000. Action for making available eligible share of participation and resources to scheduled sections have been taken as part of peoples plan campaign program.
The state scheduled caste convention was a great success. LDF government is duty bound to implement the demands adopted in that convention. Majority of the scheduled people have experienced that the words of CPI(M) are not some thing to eyewash them, but out of firm and clear commitment. As a sequel to this realisation, people, including those who were mislead and in the traps of vested interest groups, are aligning with the CPI(M). They are not merely greeting the march, but are coming forwarded dedicated to the party. The success of Nava Kerala March is also the proof of the support from the scheduled castes and tribes with new enthusiasm.
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