KOLLAM: Evictees belonging to as many as 51 families that lost their properties during the land procurement for the Perumon Engineering College have entered the 15th year of their protests.
The authorities have allegedly failed to keep their promises to give job postings in the college to the evictees. As part of intensifying the protest, evictees have been holding a sit-in protest blocking the main entrance of the college for the last two weeks.
Perumon Engineering College is managed by the Co-operative Academy of Professional Education (CAPE). Around 35 acres of land was procured by CAPE in 1988 for its construction.
The terms and conditions signed by the evictees included assurance of a job for a person each from the families that lost their land.
CAPE prepared a list of 51 persons eligible for jobs in the college but the employment did not materialise. However, the evictees still await jobs in lieu of their lost land and houses.
They are protesting under the banner of ‘Perumon refractory land owners’ welfare association’. A high court order of 2014 also favours the evictees.
“We were issued with a card by the then district collector acknowledging that we are evictees. The High Court order of 2014 also favours us. However, the authorities including the present principal are against giving us jobs and instead, they appoint others for daily wages by accepting a bribe,” alleged Sadasivan Pillai, secretary of the association, while speaking to DC.
In December 1, 2012 a job order for 19 persons from the list of 51 was issued and the relevant documents were submitted by the evictees at CAPE’s office. However, it was allegedly sabotaged by the authorities. Even the then principal Mr. Senathipan who supported the evictees was transferred.
The association also alleges that out of the 35 acres of land procured, 5 acres belongs to Coirfed. “There is also corruption in giving a permit to run the canteen in the college. The one who runs the canteen cuts down trees every week in the name of firewood, which is illegal and against the norms to run a canteen there,” Mr Sadasivan said.
The staff members including the principal were prevented from entering the college until the protesters were forcefully removed by the Police on Monday. However, they warn that they would continue their protest until all the 51 persons got jobs as assured.
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