The Samithi is against the private real estate group’s offer of land for the Wayanad Medical College

The Bhoo Avakasha Samithi has opposed the Mananthavady municipality’s proposal to accept 25 acres of land offered for free by a private real estate group for the Government Medical College, Wayanad, in exchange for permission to convert other plantation land, warning that the move could undermine legal land acquisition.

Speaking to the media in Wayanad on Monday (October 12), social activist and general convener of the Samith, M. Geethanandan demanded that the government take over all the plantations allegedly held through forged documents and distribute the land among the landless. He said the government should not accept land offered by those allegedly holding it illegally.

The Samiths said the United Democratic Front (UDF) had promised in its election manifesto to take over such plantations and distribute the land among the landless. Acquiring the plantations would allow the government to provide land to the landless Adivasi and Dalit communities, plantation workers and others, while earmarking a portion for development projects, Mr. Geethanandan said.

The Samiths alleged that the “Land Reforms 2.0” initiative proposed by the UDF government marked a backsliding on its promise to address landlessness among the Adivasi and Dalit communities.

She said the proposed amendments to the Kerala Land Reforms Act will enable plantations to diversify cultivation and make land available for commercial purposes. Removing the land ceiling provisions could facilitate the sale of plantation land and boost the real estate market instead of allowing land to be acquired for public purposes and distributed among the landless.

The Samiths demanded a review of the initiative’s terms of reference and the termination of the current study group’s mandate.

He will organize an ‘Avakasha Yathra’ from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram from November 8, demanding comprehensive land reforms and takeover of illegally held plantations. A two-day ‘land conclave’ will also be held in Thiruvananthapuram in the last week of November to prepare an alternative plan for land reforms.

CPI(ML) Red Star district secretary KV Prakash, Ambedkarite Democratic Front convener Sreejith P. Sasi and others attended the press conference.

Published – 13 Oct 2026 07:00 IST