Plantation workers? Who is paying for lease expired Estate's workers? What is the workers interest in a lease expired estate
it clearly denotes the convergence of Harrison's interests and CPIM interest Anivar On Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 12:26 PM, Dileep Raj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > *Marches planned to Chengara * Radhakrishnan Kuttoor * Plantation workers, > land struggle solidarity forum harden positions * Photo: Leju Kamal > > * ANXIOUS wait: A group of elderly women at the encroached portion of > Kumbazha Estate at Chengara, near Konni. — * > > CHENGARA (Pathanamthitta Dt.): The situation at Chengara is taking a turn > for the worse with encroachers and plantation workers hardening their > opposing positions. > > The plantation workers and the Chengara Land Struggle Solidarity Forum have > announced marches to the encroached land, and the fear is that a flashpoint > will be reached. > > The forum has scheduled its march for August 30, protesting against the > blockade launched by the trade unions on the road leading to the Kumbazha > estate of Harrisons Malayalam Ltd., a part of which activists of the Sadhu > Jana Vimochana Samyukta Vedi have encroached upon. > Trade unions' plea > > The Joint Trade Union Action Council will take out the march on September > 3, if the encroachers are not evicted by then. > > The leaders of the council — P.J. Ajayakumar of the Communist Party of > India (Marxist); Vilangupara Sukumaran of the Communist Party of India; A. > Shamsuddin of the Indian National Trade Union Congress; and P.S. Sasi of the > Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh — submitted a memorandum to District Collector P.C. > Sanalkumar on Monday, seeking immediate clearance of the encroachment for > the plantation workers to get work. > > They accused the authorities of criminal negligence towards their plight > after being rendered jobless for a year following the encroachment. Their > families were in a pathetic condition. > Diseases > > Waterborne diseases are spreading fast among the encroachers. Food is > scarce, as trade unions have been blocking the road to the encroached land > since August 3. > Harassment alleged > > "Though the trade union leaders claim that they have withdrawn the road > blockade at Athambamkulam, harassment of Vedi workers and their women and > children at Chengara continues on the road," alleged Raghavan, an > encroacher. > > He said a pregnant woman was assaulted and had been admitted to the General > Hospital in Pathanamthitta, besides 10 other Vedi workers who were attacked > outside the estate. > > The trade union workers had threatened the estate-bound Health Department > staff, alleged Vasu, another encroacher. > > District Medical Officer Aysha Bai told *The Hindu* that a group of > plantation workers threatened the staff outside the estate the other day. > The plantation workers, in a violent mood, strongly opposed holding of any > medical camp on the encroached land, Dr. Bai said. She said the Health > Department was ready to conduct medical camps if the administration ensured > the medical team's protection. > > She said the staff who visited Chengara the other day came across many > diarrhoea cases, besides stray cases of chickenpox. The Vedi workers said > the health staff did not distribute any medicines. > > M.D. Thomas, leader of the forum, alleged that the denial of medical care > and food to the people, especially women and children, was a gross violation > of human rights. > > Mr. Sanalkumar said the administration had made arrangements for medical > care of the sick people at the nearby primary health centres and the General > Hospital. > > > -- > Dileep R I thuravoor > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
