Thiruvananthapuram, June 24: Kerala would make a renewed plea to the Centre to clear allocation of 25,000 hectares of land to be distributed to the adivasis as the UDF government was firm to find a lasting solution to the vexed tribal landright question before its present tenure ended, Chief Minister A K Antony told the state assembly today. The three-member Central team, which visited the state recently, had suggested that the state make a fresh plea to get the forest ministry's clearance in this regard, Antony said in reply to questions. The state also proposed to take over 7,000 acres of land in the Aralam Farm for the purpose. The proposal was expected to come up for the union cabinet's consideration soon, he said.
The government would consider providing relief assistance to the next of kin of Jogi, the adivasi killed during the police action at Muthanga in February this year, he said. The government had difficulty in giving relief assistance to Jogi's family due to his alleged involvement in the death of a policeman during the Muthanga struggle. Still, the government would consider providing assistance to his family on humanitarian grounds, he added. Bureau Report