A group of tribal people from the villages located at the foothills of Vellingiri marched to the District Revenue office (DRO) at the Collectorate affirming an amicable relationship between them and Isha Foundation.
On 30th September, the tribal people of Muttathuvayal, Savakadu, Mattathukadu, Padakadu and Kulatheri staged a road roko at Muttathuvayal checkpost alleging Isha of trying to encroach 43 acres of squatter lands adjoining to their primitive villages. which is meant to be ear marked for allotment of free lands for these aforesaid tribal people.
To the contrary, today the same group of people petitioned to the DRO that they have been brainwashed by a person named Sivaprakasam who claims himself as a press person and promised these people to address to all their Government related issues. He has collected a fee of Rs. 2500 from every tribal family promising them to get free land pattas.
They also revealed that Isha Foundation has been helping them by providing quality free education for their children, medical facilities, health check up camps etc., 'But Sivashanmugham has misused our ignorance and got signatures from us and filed petitions and complaints against Isha. He has been doing this in the intent of distorting the relationship between us and Isha. Hence, we request the officials to initiate action against Sivashanmugham for deceiving the people for his own personal interests. Isha has caused no harm to us but indeed has been helping us in numerable ways', they said.