KALPETTA: The women of Vadakkanad village near Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad have started an indefinite hunger strike in front of the office of Wayanad Wildlife Warden after a week-long agitation led by men failed to move the authorities to stop the frequent wildlife raids on their crops. Two women, Vijaya Narayanan and Jyothi Suresh, launched the strike accompanied by countless women on Monday. Women also organised a protest march in the town prior to the launch.
Vijaya Narayanan told reporters that the lackadaisical attitude of the state government in capturing and rehabilitating the tuskers had forced them to fight for justice. "Earlier, we were supporting the men. Now it is our time as women's voice will get more support across the spectrum," she added. The two women are accompanied by a few women at night along with men on guard. It may be recalled that the agitation of farmers organised under the banner Vadakkanadu Grama Samrakshana Samithy was started in front of the Wayanad Wildlife Warden's office at Sulthan Bathery on March 6. The action council enjoyed the backing of the entire people of the village which includes three wards (1, 2 , 3 ) of the Noolppuzha village panchayat which has 2000 households and more than 6,000 population.
Action council chairman Fr Joby Mukkattukavunkal told DC that there was an attempt to divide the people on political lines, which was why the women had come to the forefront. "We were forced to resume the agitation as the government failed to keep the promises made to farmers, including relocating the problem tuskers roaming in the region," Fr Joby said. "There is an attempt to persuade men with Left leanings to back out from the agitation as the CPM has declared that it does not back the agitation," he added. "I hope the women would rewrite history by winning the battle as they are the most affected with the wildlife attacks," he pointed out.
