The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] led the Adivasi Kshema Samithi on Monday to protest against the decision of Aralam Farming Corporation (Kerala) Limited to allow private companies to engage in participatory agriculture for extended periods.
CPI(M) Kannur district secretary M.V. Jayarajan inaugurated the protest.
Samithi district secretary K. Mohanan said the decision to hand over land bought at ₹42.09 crore using tribal funds to private companies for 30 years was unacceptable. He termed the move a betrayal of the tribal communities and demanded cancellation of long-term agreements and retention of land under government ownership.
“The land that the tribals have fought for and won as part of their rights struggle will not be allowed to be given to private capitalists,” he said.
The Adivasi-Dalit Munnetta Samithi had last week submitted a petition to Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes O.R. Kelu, seeking an immediate halt to transfer of tribal land to private companies.
Meanwhile, the Aralam Farming Corporation denied leasing land to private entrepreneurs. Corporation administrative officer Nitheesh Kumar clarified that claims of six farms being leased were false. He said that individuals were barred from partnership schemes, and only profitable and environmentally safe projects that benefited tribal communities had been selected.
Published – February 10, 2025 10:18 pm IST