CPIML Lib Kerala

Convention on Land Rights and
 

 Struggles in Kerala 

In the wake of recent agitations by landless poor and dalits demanding immediate government take over and redistribution of vast extents of plantation lands held in unlawful possession of monopolies and vested interests, a convention sharply focusing glaring lapses on the part of state administration in formulating a scientific and comprehensive land reforms in Kerala was held in Mukkada in Pathanamthitta district on August 6th. The convention was organized by Bhu Samara Munnani - a struggling front of several organizations demanding land for the landless poor and dalits in which the Kerala State Leading Team of CPI (ML) is also represented.

The day-long convention took place at the SC ST Community Hall in Mukkada which was named after Jogi, the martyred adivasi leader of Muthanga land struggle of 2003 February.

A peaceful agitation demanding takeover and redistribution of 2262 acres of Cheruvally estate land (situated at Mukkada) had already been started by Bhu Samara Munnani, which has crossed 90th day. Cheruvally estate is part of several thousand acres of land in the possession of M/s Harrisons Malayalam Co, which in turn has recently been sold to Mr K P Yohannan (who normally resides in US and is currently holding the post of Bishop in a particular Christian sect). The agitation also demands the government to withdraw from the recent move to build an airport in Cheruvalli estate land, which is hardly at an aerial distance of 110 kms from the international airport at Nedumbassery (Ernakulam).  It is also a fairly known fact that the idea of building new airport in an ecologically fragile tract of land close to the Periyar Tiger Reserve and rain forests in Ponthanpuzha is just another wrong notion of development, and promises of generating over 10,000 jobs are eyewash.

The Pinarayi Government is unwilling to answer any of the questions raised by the Bhu Samara Munnani on its failure to honour its own pre-election promises of seizure and redistribution to the landless of vast areas of plantation lands which had been identified to be held by monopolies beyond lease tenures from erstwhile governments or in total violation of lease agreements.

A draft resolution proposed by Bhu Samara Munnani and approved by the convention observed that the Government of 1957 led by the undivided Communist Party of India which came to power in the aftermath of numerous peasants’ struggles based on the slogan ‘land to the tiller’ had virtually diluted the political essence of the very slogan. The document pointed out that there were three conspicuous exemptions in provisions of Kerala Land Reforms Bill of 1963 which came into force as KLA (1970) and in the following legislations. Firstly, huge extents of land in the hands of various religious and communal trusts were kept out of the purview of land reforms; secondly, plantations as such were exempted and finally, vast areas of lands given away piecemeal through numerous gift deeds to closely related persons were also exempted. As a result of such policies, the outcome of the much trumpeted land reforms legislation was just one that making tenant farmers owners, while majority of real tillers of soil who were mostly dalits and adivasis continued to be practically landless, except for tiny bits given as homesteads. As on today, major chunk of the dalit and adivasi populations of Kerala are confronted with the chronic problem of landlessness and are living in 24,000 and 14,000 colonies (SC and ST) respectively.

A Committee headed by Dr M G Rajamanikyam, IAS had been appointed by the former UDF government to study and report on all relevant aspects about the nature of possession of huge extents of plantation lands held in the pretext of authenticity of erstwhile lease deeds. In its first report as early as in June 2016 the Rajamanikyam Committee had stated that 525,000 acres of plantation lands (about 2124 sq. km) stretched in eight districts of Kerala are held by big companies with absolutely no authority. After the enactment of Indian Independence Act of 1947 and FERA of 1963, all related land transactions or agreements made by and with foreign companies ought to be treated as null and void. The committee also had recommended that the government should reclaim these lands and redistribute to the landless.

The convention was presided over by Comrade KKS Das, General Secretary, National Dalit Liberation Front (NDLF) and inaugurated by Comrade P J James, leader of CPI(ML) Red Star. Activists from various organizations struggling for land rights and democratic rights attended the convention. The speakers made several important political points about various aspects linked to the chronic problem of landlessness typically faced by dalits and adivasis of Kerala.

Comrades P O John (General Convener, Bhu Samara Munnani) , M P Kunhikkanaran (All India Krantikari Kisan Sabha), Joy VK (Dalit Bhu Adhikara Samiti) ,P J Manuel (Sarfazi Bank Japthi Virudha Samiti) , Ramesh Anjilasseri (Bhu Samara Munnani) ,C R Neelakantan ( social activist & leader of AAP ), Susheelan (CPIML) , I C Rajappan (CPIML) , John Peruvanthanam (environmental activist), K K Suresh (CSDS) , K K Mani ( SLF), Soman Ayirur (welfare Party) , Ajith Kollengode (Welfare Party),P S Uthaman (Adivasi Ekopana Samiti, Laha ), P A Gopidas (KCS), A B R Neelamperur ( CYS) , Ramanan Vazhamuttam (Ambedkar Janakeeya Vedi), Yusuf M ( Kerala Manushyavakasha Vedi), E P Anil( MBR) ,P P John (KSMTF),   John K Erumeli, O P Kunhupilla , Pathiyur Vishwan and  K M Venugopalan  (Kerala SLT members, CPIML Liberation) were among those who participated in the convention as leaders and representatives of various struggling organizations . 

Comrade Balasundaram CC Member, CPI(ML) Liberation gave felicitation address in the convention. While acknowledging the significance of such leaders’ meet held against the crucial background of ongoing land struggle at Cheruvalli estate (Pathanamthitta district) together with continuing struggles in Arippa(Trivandrum),  Aralam (Kannur) , Chengara( Pathanamthitta) and many such  places in Kerala, he observed that there is a dire need to fight the anomalies of KLR Act of 1970 . Referring to the absolute absence of  sensitivity shown by the Pinarayi government toward the suggestion to legally reclaim the plantation lands and to redistribute to the landless as recommended by  Dr Rajamanikyam Committee Report (which had been prepared and submitted during the tenure of the predecessor UDF government), Comrade Balasundaram pointed out that  in many such instances successive governments in states and at the centre have deliberately allowed commission reports to gather dust for the only reason that they contained suggestions for proactive initiatives toward land reforms. He also drew attention to the continuing relevance of historic militancy of Naxalbari peasants’ assertion as revolutionaries across the country commemorate its 50th anniversary. 

The meet also had sessions of cultural programmes in which performing artists and poets made their presentations.  Vijayan (drushya thalam), Ajith M Pachanadan (poet) Sasikkuttan Vakathanam and C Vasukkuttan participated.

Towards the close of the day long convention, Bhu Samara Munnani reconstituted itself so as to have representation in most districts of Kerala.  31 activists from various parties and struggling groups were to be the newly reconstituted General Council of Bhu Samara Munnani. An Executive Committee comprising 21 members was elected.