Landmafia over colonies with eagle’s eye
Malappuram: The name of Urangattiri panchayath itself related with tribesmen. As the history tell, tribesmen from Nilambur forestes were migrated to Mailadi close to Chekkunnu hills, Kodumpuzha, Odakkazham, Cheengannippali. It was called ‘Ur Angattiri’ due to excess number of people who lived then and later changed to ‘Urangattiri’ by usage.
One third of the scheduled tribes of the district live here. There are 1060 tribesmen rightnow as in 15 colonies. Mailaadi, Odakkazham, Vettilappara, Inthumpali, Alappara, Kavunguchola, Kurangallu, Peedikkunnu, Kalappara, Cheenganni, Kodumapuzha, Panniayanmala, Kureerim Nelliyani Karimbu of Urangattiri and Vettilappara villages are to name a few.
Muthuvaan (Malamuthan) tribes are live in colonies except Odakkayam where Paniyar live in a large number. Muthuvans where in S T O E C (Other Eligible Community) category in which they got only educational privileges but none. However later the government enacted to be considered them as original scheduled tribes. But even as per the developmental guide of the scheduled tribes of last year they are still in the S T O E C (Other Eligible Community) category.
Past S T O E C certificates were subjected to extensive exploitation. As per law scheduled tribes owned lands are not allowed to sell but S T O E C. exploiting this, land mafias have been conquered a large area of land. Mortgaging the deed crediting money from cooperative societies and other financial enterprises are the very beginning of a brutal trap. Hearing the tricky advice that the credit bear tribesmen would omit later many of them didn’t take care of repay. Increasing the interest in a big buck, the property that mortgaged would reach in the edge of attachment. The role of land mafia begins here. They would appear wearing the robe of savior. The incidents that mafia robed the lands for cheap rates are a lot there. The transaction is being made easy and lawful by showing the old S T O E C certification. Some regional leaders and so called social workers are there in the mafia chain. The working of land mafia is by forming intermediates from those who got education and governmental jobs from tribesmen.
Taking advantage of the extensive starvation and massive alcohol infatuation sexual exploitations are also in a wide range. Many of the women who are going out for work are being subjected to different kinds of molestation. Even in brutal molestation case accused is finding security by force speech change of victim. More often bigwigs would intervene in the problem so many cases even don’t reach in courts.
In panniyanmala, it was a little girl tormented by her own uncle and his comrades. She was at children’s home at Thavanoor for a long time but later she forced to change her stature and those accused were escaped.
Pivotal reason for exploitations and torments occupant of colonies at Urangattari face is tribulance and lack of basic infrastructure. To them, even now basic needs such as water, power and roads are just dream. For the completion of these basic needs, the government officials lack the unanimity.