A meeting of tribal representatives in Kerala, held at Namithidam Harmony Hall in Anakkatti on Tuesday, demanded that the government take steps to ensure 1,00,897 tribal families in the state receive ownership of land ranging from one to five acres. The gathering, organized by the tribal collective Thampu and regional publication Gothra Bhoomi, emphasized the need for policy formulation for tribal empowerment with a vision spanning at least 25 years, aiming for Vision 2050 as the agenda.
Key Demands and Recommendations
The suggestions raised at the meeting will be compiled and presented as ‘Oor Jadd 2026’ by a tribal delegation to Chief Minister V D Satheesan, Scheduled Tribes Department Minister K A Thulasi, other ministers, and opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram. The meeting noted that a lack of significant land ownership has hindered the development and empowerment activities of tribal communities.
Implementation of PESA Act
It called for implementing the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act in tribal areas to preserve the socio-economic and cultural heritage of the tribal populace and eliminate delays in distributing social rights under the Forest Rights Act. The meeting also urged establishing new forest rights committees (FRCs) to include eligible areas, as only 661 FRCs have been formed so far in Kerala.
Permanent Solutions for Land Issues
The representatives sought to initiate necessary actions to find permanent solutions to tribal land issues, including alienated lands, and to appoint a judicial commission for this purpose. They demanded ensuring social justice and conducting awareness campaigns in native languages about the Forest Rights Act, PESA Act, Prevention of Atrocities Act, POCSO Act, and tribal welfare schemes implemented by central and state governments.
Participation and Outcomes
Based on these issues, 100 recommendations will be submitted to the government. Around 60 tribal representatives from various regions and organizations participated in the event, sharing their suggestions, experiences, and concerns. The camp was inaugurated by Attappady block panchayat president Allen. The inaugural session was chaired by Rajendra Prasad, president of Thampu and editor of Gothra Bhoomi.
