84th day of hunger fast by landless laborers at Eruvappuram demanding political rights!

In a small village far off from any town or media presence in Tamilnadu, a silent satyagraha is being waged by a people who have been oppressed for generations. Today they are on the 84th day of their hunger fast. Eruvappuram is a village panchayat in Tuticorin district of Tamilnadu. The habitat of the agricultural labourers of this village were divided into two panchayats during the early panchayat re-distribution. This resulted in them being rendered into a minority with no voice in the governance of the local body. With a highly dominant, land owning community never permitting the labourers access to any facilities or power to contest, the labourers have withstood oppression for decades now. They have been silently fighting for rights in grassroot governance structure or a fresh look at the demarcation of the panchayat.

Recently a youth wing from this class have risen and started questioning the status quo. An presentation with the Collector requesting him to make this village as a separate panchayat resulted in a government order earlier this year. However, within 10 days of the Government Order being issued, due to political pressure from the community of land owners in this area, the order was revoked.

The village came together and decided to protest as a body against such a bias. So starting the 2nd of october the entire village has sat on a relay hunger fast outside the village in a small pandal that has been erected for this purpose by them. Families take turn in sending their members for the protest fast. During my visit on the 82nd day of the fast, I found a mix of women and youth dominating the hunger fast.

The local complain that the officials and police are trying to disturb the silent satyagraha. The local politicians are trying to provide a caste based colour to this movement, so as to ensure their share of publicity. This would suit the administration too, to declare this as a 'sensitive area' and let loose police on the local people. The youth wing and the people of the village insist that this is not a caste based issue. That this is an issue of a agricultural labourers wanting to have their say in their governance and protesting against being oppressed by dominant class in the village. Their resolve is seen in not being provoked or intimidated by the presence of an entrouge of policemen and intelligence officers much larger than warranted for a village level issue.

I had visited the village as part of a farmers movement on a rally across the state demanding attention to farmer issues including land rights, better prices and higher priority in policy issues. A group from the recent JanaDesh headed by P.V. Rajagopal were in the village to declare their solidarity to the silent village struggle. Surprisingly, none of the political parties which talk of the issues of the oppressed seem to want to provide unconditional support to these village folk, as the villagers have steadfastly refused to adopt any party line.

Further details contact:

Mr. Jeevan, Meetchi Makkal Iyakkam, Tuticorin

Mr. Ariarvelan, Ekta Parishad, Madurai 09443612444