Adivasi outfits come against Attappadi package

KOCHI: The leaders of adivasi organisations have come out against the Attappadi package announced by the government.  “The government should evict the private company which encroached on the adivasi land instead of implementing the package.  “The package is in violation of Adivasi Act 1975 and the provisions under the Constitution,” said the leaders of adivasi organisations.  They said the government was justifying the land encroachment and therefore the package should be withdrawn.  There are around 30 adivasi families which cannot occupy their land despite a High Court order.  Hundreds of petitions related to land encroachment are pending before the Adivasi Land Protection  Office.  The company has encroached upon 136 acres of land that belong to 38 families, the leaders said.They alleged that those who supported adivasis earlier, were now keeping mum after they came into  power.  The government should reveal the names of the organisation with which discussions were held to implement the package, said Rajendraprasad of Thambu, K A Ramu of Vanavakasa Samrakshana Samithi, V T Kumar of Adivasi Aikya Samithi, V M Pavithran of Ektha Parishad, and P K Santhosh Kumar of Dalit Mahasabha in a statement.