The construction of elephant walls along the boundaries connecting the Aralam Rehabilitation area and the forest has slowed down.
| Photo Credit: special arrangement

Activist Sreeraman Koyyon, president of the Adivasi-Dalit Munnetta Samithi, along with a delegation of tribal representatives, submitted a petition to Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes Welfare Minister O.R. Kelu, demanding an immediate halt to the transfer of tribal land for pineapple cultivation at Aralam farm.

The delegation highlighted the severe environmental and social impact of the decision, especially the use of harmful pesticides that could contaminate soil and water resources in the region.

Mr. Koyyon said the delegation had outlined the challenges faced by tribal families in Aralam during the meeting.

He said Aralam farm, purchased using Scheduled Tribe funds, was meant to benefit tribal communities. However, land distribution had been uneven, with 330 families in Wayanad and about 3,000 in Kannur receiving land, despite the original stipulation of two-thirds for Wayanad and one-third for Kannur. He added that over 7,000 landless tribal families in Kannur were still awaiting land allocation.

However, the Aralam Farming Corporation’s decision to lease 1,000 acres for cultivation to private entrepreneurs undermines tribal rights and further alienates them from their ancestral land.

Mr. Koyyon said pineapple cultivation would have far-reaching negative effects, as the harmful pesticides used could further contaminate soil and water sources, including the Pazhassi clean water supply project, which provides drinking water to thousands.

“We reminded the Minister of the 2014 sit-in protest led by tribal organisations, which led to then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy cancelling the lease for pineapple cultivation,” he said. He added that the Minister had assured them the lease agreement would be reviewed.

Mr. Koyyon said 15 tribals had died in elephant attacks at the farm, forcing over 1,500 families to abandon their homes. He also added that the long-pending ₹52-crore elephant wall project should be completed without further delay.

Mr. Koyyon said the delegation urged the Minister to avoid promoting farm tourism that involves accommodating tourists in tribal villages, citing concerns over disruptions to their way of life. He added that the tribals also demanded a halt to the cancellation of land titles for families who left due to elephant attacks and called for the publication of a list of newly allotted land beneficiaries on the farm to ensure transparency and fairness.