Narikuravas of Eraiyur village in the district have decided to boycott the Lok Sabha elections, seeking regularisation of cultivation in poramboke land in the village.
A decision to this effect was taken by the residents at their village on Sunday.
The move comes in the wake of suspension of the issue of ‘B’ memo. ‘B’ memos are issued by the Revenue Department every year regulating the cultivation on poramboke lands. In the past three decades, many Narikurava families, who were leading a nomadic life, had settled down in the village. They had been raising groundnut, maize and coriander on about 260 acres of land.
Agriculture benefited them with assured returns in contrast to their traditional vocation of selling hand-made trinkets and also helped them educate their children.
Owing to the suspension of ‘B’ memos, some families had moved out of the village. However, about 330 families continue farming, but are living under the constant fear of eviction. According to P. Prabhu, a community member, the trouble arose when the Revenue Department stopped issuing ‘B’ memos. “Although the department has been issuing the memo for 15 years, the suspension of the practice in 1996 came as a major blow to us,” he said. But Mr. Prabhu is confident of winning the battle.
This is the second time in a row that the community would be boycotting the Lok Sabha election. “Our repeated pleas to the elected representatives have fallen on deaf ears.
The government should issue the B-memos without any delay,” he said and emphasised the importance of ensuring the socio-economic development of the community.
“Poll boycott is the only option left for us to draw the attention of the elected representatives,” he says.
