Arippa protesters urge Kerala government to halt collection of rubber tree dues

The Adivasi Dalit Munneta Samithi (ADMS) has approached the State government to halt proceedings aimed at collecting fees for rubber trees on land occupied by Arippa protesters for the past 14 years. This demand comes ahead of the proposed title deed (pattaya) distribution intended to resolve the long-standing Arippa land struggle. The organisation expressed concern that imposing such a financial burden on marginalised families would undermine the very purpose of the land distribution.

According to ADMS president Sreeraman Koyyon, families residing in huts on revenue land have been issued payment notices by the Forest department. These notices require Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and other landless families to pay for the rubber and miscellaneous trees standing on the plots they currently occupy. The organisation said that many of these families are elderly or suffer from chronic illnesses, having survived for years by tapping a small number of trees for livelihood.

Mr. Koyyon also pointed out the discrepancy in valuation, noting that although the rubber trees are over 30 years old and have remained stunted and neglected since the government took over the land in 2003, they are being priced at ₹850 per tree. “Most families, already financially broken by over a decade of protest, have received payment slips ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹25,000 which they can’t afford,” he said.

Environmental concerns

Furthermore, there are environmental concerns that cutting these trees in an area already prone to water scarcity will turn the region into a virtual desert, adversely affecting the health of the residents.

The trees in question were originally planted during a long-term lease period and fell under government control in 2003 after the lease expired. “Local timber traders are now attempting to exploit the situation by offering small sums to these struggling families to pay off the government dues in exchange for the rights to the timber. We have urged the government to waive these fees entirely to ensure that the families listed for title deeds can finally secure their land without falling into further debt or exploitation,” he said.