another farmer strike

Erayamkudy;Name of another strike for land
kochi: The second land reforms act of the state of kerala is in a budding stage. Although hte protest against he exploitation of paddy fiels started much earlier. Like other states real estate boom is already in kerala. When smart city project became a reality land is more and more precious in this southenmost state. like other states in india farmers are a weak group in kerala also. In kerala fields have started to produce multy storey building and land mining has become a tough hurdle for the farmers.
Land mining especially for brick factories is concentrated in the middle of the state.ie, in Ernakulam and thrissur districts.Two struggles by the farmers came in to lime light last year. Those were muriyyad and erayamkudy strikes. Muriyyad strike was for proper irrigation facilities to the field. The neglegence of authorities ruined the fields in muriyyad. These fields were highly fertile two decades before.
unavailablity of workers catalysed the decay of land. To protect the fields farmers under the leadership of varghese toduparambil formed muriyyad karshaka samiti and started hunger strike. Social activists expressed solidarity to the strike. It has become a success and even medha padhkar visited muriyyad.
The success of muriyyad strike encouraged the farmers and natives of erayamkudy and they started protesting against sand mining. Like muriyyad erayamkudy fields were also fertile. Now red brick factories captured the land and a little land left for farming. Farmers became workers in brick factories. Most of the factories donot have proper licence. Farmers allege that factory owners use muscle power to silent them. Some of the panchayath members joined hands with land mafia and started discouraging the farmers struggle. Samarasamiti has staged several marches to nearby local self governing offices and they proved futile.
When erayamkudy became a burning topic district officials visited the place. Stop memo has been issued for the second time! But with these normal procedures nothing occured. Aggressiveness should be shown by the authorities to make this land available for farming. Government should give essential support. The land reforms act is a ray of hope for the farmers and they are eagerly waiting for it.