The District Collectorate witnessed tense moments this morning. Tribals and Dalits who live near the Isha Foundation that is located at the foothills of the Velliangiri Mountains, visited the District Collectorate. They presented a petition to the Coimbatore Collector requesting help to retrieve the land encroached by Isha Foundation. This land the petitioners claim is meant for the Tribals and Dalits who are living in this region.
The Tribals and Dalits who are living in the area around the Isha Foundation have been petitioning the government officials to provide them land. Government officials on several occasions have promised them that necessary action will be taken in this regard.
In the midst of all this, Isha Foundation started work of fencing the 45-acres of land. Tribals and Dalits claim that this land belongs to them. Social activists who observed the fencing work, enquired about the ownership of land. It was then learnt that this land was confiscated under the Agricultural Land Ceiling Act and it was supposed to be distributed among the Dalits and Tribals.
Following this Dalits and Tribals form this region, under the Panjami Land Reclaiming Movement thronged the Collector's office and submitted a petition. The petition accuses the Isha Foundation of encroaching their lands.
The group also stated that the land should be recovered and distributed among the Tribals and Dalits of this region. The government officials accepted the petition and assured the petitioners that necessary action will be taken in this regard.
Advocate Panneer Selvam while interacting with the media stated that the government has refused to provide land to the Tribals and Dalits citing non-availability of land. One of the petitioners stated “It is now learnt that the Isha Foundation has encroached 44-acres of land.” He further said that “If the government is not taking any action we ourselves will construct huts on the encroached site”.
The Tribals and Dalits who are living in the area around the Isha Foundation have been petitioning the government officials to provide them land. Government officials on several occasions have promised them that necessary action will be taken in this regard.
In the midst of all this, Isha Foundation started work of fencing the 45-acres of land. Tribals and Dalits claim that this land belongs to them. Social activists who observed the fencing work, enquired about the ownership of land. It was then learnt that this land was confiscated under the Agricultural Land Ceiling Act and it was supposed to be distributed among the Dalits and Tribals.
Following this Dalits and Tribals form this region, under the Panjami Land Reclaiming Movement thronged the Collector's office and submitted a petition. The petition accuses the Isha Foundation of encroaching their lands.
The group also stated that the land should be recovered and distributed among the Tribals and Dalits of this region. The government officials accepted the petition and assured the petitioners that necessary action will be taken in this regard.
Advocate Panneer Selvam while interacting with the media stated that the government has refused to provide land to the Tribals and Dalits citing non-availability of land. One of the petitioners stated “It is now learnt that the Isha Foundation has encroached 44-acres of land.” He further said that “If the government is not taking any action we ourselves will construct huts on the encroached site”.