Tribals meet, cultural get-together on March 1

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On the ninth anniversary of the Muthanga agitation, a tribals’ meet and a cultural get together will be held on March 13 here under the joint auspices of the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha and other tribal organisations. Gothra Maha Sabha president C K Janu, Bhoo Parishkarana Samithi Convener M Geethanandan, Gothra Maha Sabha vice-president Mamman Master and Girivarga Kanikkar Sangham president Sadasivan Kani said here on Friday that they were planning to launch an agitation demanding compensation and rehabilitation for those tribals, evicted from Muthanga, implementation of ‘adivasi package of 2001’, handing over of the Priyadarshini Attappadi Girijan Society land for the tribals and the implementation of the Forest Rights act. It was on February 19, 2003, that around 3,000 tribals were evicted from Muthanga. Cases were framed against 1,000 people, 725 tribals were charged  six cases each under the forest rules. The rest of them were facing criminal cases. Recently, two forest cases were dismissed. Following the Gothra Maha Sabha’s request, four other forest cases were also closed by the UDF Government. They alleged that it was one fire break-out on February 17, 2003, had led to the eviction of tribals from Muthanga. But the ruling party leaders recently revealed that one forester and another person, claims to be an environmentalist, were behind the fire break-out. They demanded an independent probe into the incident, in view of the recent revelations.   Congress leader V M Sudheeran will inaugurate the convention at VJT Hall at 10 a.m. National SC, ST Commission Former Chairman Dr B D Sarma will deliver the keynote address. The cultural get together in front of the Secretariat will be held at 3 p.m.