“The New Indian Express” (TVM Edition), Saturday, May 19, 2001

(Express News Service)

Kottayam, May 18 : Adivasi leader C. K. Janu today warned the A. K. Antony-led Government that it will face serious consequences as the Left suffered in the recent polls, if it dilly-dallied on a host of issues pertaining to tribals and Dalits in the State.

A common democratic platform to take up agitations of various hues will be formed to keep up the tempo of the Adivasi-Dalit Movement in the State, she added.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Janu noted that the results of the Assembly polls held recently has become an eye-opener to both the LDF and the UDF. If the LDF never expected such a rout, the UDF never foresaw such a massive win. The undercurrents related to the Adivasi and Dalit segments in society were so strong, making predictions impossible, she claimed.

Janu pointed out that those who were in power and believed to be instrumental in neglecting and stonewalling the rights of the Adivasis and Dalits were given a befitting reply at the hustings. She particularly noted the fall of former education minister P. J. Joseph (Thodupuzha), revenue minister K. E. Ismail (Pattambi), deputy speaker C. A. Kurien (Peerumedu) and Fr. Mathai Nooranal (Sulthan Batheri).

Unless the Antony Government realises the gravity of Adivasi-Dalit issues and embarks on correcti ve measures, the Joint Democratic Adivasi-Dalit Front will be forced to intensify and carry on agitations to its logical end, Janu reminded.

Implementation of the Tribal Land Act (1975), cancellation of the Amendment Act (1999), doing away with eco-tourism projects in Adivasi areas, implementation of the High Court order to constuitute a corpus fund for treatment of about 30,000 Adivasis afflicted with the dreaded “sickle cell anaemia”, formation of a Dalit development bank on a capital outlay of Rs. 100 crore and reservation in the education and cooperative sectors among others will be taken up by the joint front immediately, Janu added.

Adivasi-Dalit leaders M.D. Thomas, P. D. Isaac, Geetanandan, and Sunny were also present at the Press meet.

Harassment of Dalits condemned

MADIKERI: The Dalit sangharsh Samiti (DSS) has condemned the recent harassment meted out to Dalits in Kodagu.

Speaking to media persons, State organising secretary of Dalit sangharsh Samiti Sridhar Kaliveer said, since the last two years Dalits were being severely harassed in the three taluks of the district.

He said as per the SC/ST Atrocities Act 1989, the accused involved in the crime should face severe legal punishment and a non-bailable warrant should be made against such persons.

However, the accused were released on bail though the Atrocities Act states that the warrant is non-bailable , he charged.

He charged that the district-in-charge Minister was responsible for the act being not implemented in the district.

State organising secretary alleged that the police department too had failed to act as per the law.