Thiruvananthapuram: Administrative Reforms Commission chairman V. S. Achuthanandan on Wednesday said government land which should have been distributed among thousands of landless and homeless tribals, dalits and other marginalised sections, was in the possession of big and small encroachers in the state. Though LDF government had started the process of taking back land from encroachers in 2006, owing to various reasons the task has not been completely yet. He was speaking after handing over Ummasseri Madhavan memorial charity award to Dr Sriram Venkataraman at the Press Club here.
The veteran leader said Venkataraman’s name was widely discussed by Malayalees during 2017 because of his commendable work as Devikulam sub collector. “I understand he has completed only four to five years in civil service. But he proved that actions that benefit the people can be carried out even in this short span. On has nothing to fear if his ideas are clear, thinking is right and working style is transparent. One can go forward fearlessly,” he said.
Achuthanandan said issues connected with Munnar had been widely discussed by Kerala society and in political sphere. The fact that he could effectively intervene in reclaiming encroached land was no mean achievement. Despite opposition from various quarters and pressure, he could exercise the powers vested with him to reclaim encroached land, he added.
The ARC chairman said apart from action against encroachers, he did another commendable work. He worked hard to provide birth certificates to over 2500 tribal children in Marayoor. It was a long pending demand of tribal families. Over 30,000 tribal children in various districts are yet to get birth certificates. Venkataraman’s work has inspired authorities in other districts to take the work of birth certificates on priority. Achuthanandan said though Venkataraman was transferred from Idukki, in his new posting as employment director the officer will continue to work for the welfare of the people.
