National Alliance of Dalit Organisations (NADO ) Idukky district Secretary Saramma Joseph started a hunger strike in front of the Devi kulam taluk office today at 11am. Her protest is for recovering the alienated land of the tribals.

The tribals in Chinnakkanal and Singandam areas of Idukky district had possessed 1490 acres of government land earlier. Some of the tribal families were rehabilitated in this land by the Tribal mission and ST department. The former revenue minister of Kerala Tiruvanchoor Radhakrishna talked with the Tribal leaders like Saramma Joseph and cunningly evicted them from this land. He promised that this land would be given to the landless Adivasis of this area. Instead of keeping the promise all the political parties including the CPM, Congress, and Kerala congress and the government officials unanimously made a clear ground to the encroaches to settle in the Tribal land. Now the land is in the possession of the relatives and friends of the politicians.

The tribals rehabilitated by the Tribal mission was also evicted with the support of the government officials and the forest officials, fabricated evidence that the Adivasis left the land due to Wild Elephants attack.

With the strong support of the ruling party and its goondas, the encroachers are threatening the tribals.

Various social movements, SC/ST organizations have been continuously agitating to recover the tribal land. But the successive government was ignoring the demand and protest of all these Dalit and Tribal organizations

Ms. Saramma Joseph ‘s protest is for recovering the adivasis alienated land by the complete eviction of the encrochers.Her hunger strike is also an attempt to uncover the truth of the tribal land which is manipulated through the recent controversies related to land encroachment.

NADO Kerala Chapter is requesting all the Dalit and Tribal organizations to join hands and express their solidarity in their struggle for justice. NADO is also requesting the support of all the civil society and all the people who seek justice through democratic and constitutional means stand in solidarity with the Tribals.

Jai Bheem!

— Cynthia Stephen, Human Rights Activist, and Writer