People's Democracy

KERALA NEWSLETTER

Landless Families Build Huts on Surplus Land

N S Sajith

DURING the second phase of land struggle in Kerala, hundreds of landless families asserted their right over the surplus land when, in a historic step, they built 2,600 huts over the surplus land in 129 centres all over the state. Organised under the banner of the Bhoosamrakshana Samiti, thousands of landless people made an advance in relation to the surplus land in the preceding two days.

Samiti convener A Vijyaraghavan said the struggle would continue and expand to new centres.

On Saturday, January 12, thousands of volunteers entered the surplus lands identified by the Bhoosamrakshana Samiti. However, the police could not dare arrest the landless people who occupied the surplus lands and built new huts over there.

At present, hundreds of volunteers are guarding the newly built huts and their occupants day and night, throughout.

On the other hand, revenue officials, with the help of the police, have closed the estates in Malappuram district to restrict the entry of volunteers there.

The current phase of the land struggle in Kerala marks a new chapter in the history of struggles of the oppressed masses. The landless families would hoist, in the coming days, red flags on every piece of excess land which they have occupied since January 1.

In another significant development, the chief minister Oommen Chandi has come down from his high pedestal and promised to hold a meeting with the leaders of the Bhoosamrakshana Samiti.

A TOUCH

OF HEALING

IN a humanitarian and passionate attempt to heal the pain of the patients in the state, the CPI(M) has begun a statewide effort to strengthen the palliative movement. The CPI(M), which has a strong and vibrant mass network in the state, will be helping the patients who have been left unnoticed and unattended. The patients who are suffering with chronic diseases, the mentally and physically challenged persons and those in some other categories are going to get help from the party in regard to treatment, counselling and medicine, while the physically challenged persons would get aids also. The scheme would also cover the socially isolated persons.

Eminent persons from all walks of the life inaugurated the projects in various districts.

Under the leadership of the CPI(M), various trusts have started functioning all over the state. District level inauguration ceremonies were held on Tuesday, January 15, on the Palliative Care Day. According to the scheme chalked out, a team of volunteers will be formed under every local committee to take up the palliative care drive and every team will have experienced medical and paramedical staff.

CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the project in Karimadhom Colony in Thiruvananthapuram. Opposition leader V S Achuthananthan inaugurated the programme in Kulapparakkonam at Mannanthala in Thiruvananthapuram. In Kottayam, well known Malayalam actor Captain Raju inaugurated the programme while Dr Geevarghese Mar Kurilose, head of the Syrian Jacobite Church Niranam inaugurated the project at another place in the district. At the inaugural programme in Kurichi panchayat in Kottayam, the message of Delhi Metropolitan Diocese of Jacobite Church was also read out.

On the day, Pinarayi Vijayan said that the party aimed to make the Kerala a disease free state. Thousands of people are suffering from serious illnesses but are not able to buy the medicines. The Palliative Care Drive of the CPI(M) is not meant to garner any political benefit but to extend to the sufferers a healing touch. Hundreds of experts having no affiliation with the CPI(M) have come forward to cooperate in this drive, he said.

Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan urged the youth to come forward to protect the persons who are suffering from various illnesses.