NEW DELHI: Suresh Gopi MP demanded in the Rajya Sabha that the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes to visit Kerala immediately. Suresh Gopi told the house that the condition of the tribals in Wayanad, a major tribal area in Kerala, was deplorable and that he was requesting the departmental minister to send the commission there as early as possible.

‘I don’t have any documents regarding it. I am saying this based on some things I personally witnessed. I had visited Wayanad four days back. I attended 27 meetings organised including colonies of more than 100. I was upset hearing that many other MPs have successfully spent money reserved for tribals in their states. The reason is I did not get such a response from my state.’

Suresh Gopi cited as example the problems of Kulathur Colony in Pulpally, Wayanad. Even drinking water facility is not yet available to the people. The actor said finally he had to pay Rs 5 lakh from his pocket for the facility.

Nearly 2000 people including tribals and natives are residing in the Kulathur colony and four nearby colonies. He said that when he reached there he noticed that they don’t have water to drink. After hearing their complaints, he said that he gave Rs 5 lakh to buy the pump and the motor. He said that he had to buy the pump to supply water to the drinking water supply tank here. I travelled 120 kilometres again at night to inaugurate it.

Suresh Gopi said the tribals, who claimed to have been rehabilitated by the state government 12 years ago, are still living in huts and not a drop of water would flow outside when rained. The life of adivasis in Kerala are miserable and extremely sad.

Power supply to Edamalakkudy, the only tribal panchayat in Kerala, was provided under centre’s scheme. Edamalakkudy was the last village in the country to be fully electrified. The first house to the last one is under the responsibility of the state government. The MP said that his question was whether they electrified it or not. He said that even if his term ends in the Rajya Sabha and if the facts raised by him are found incorrect, his friend and Left representative Brittas can raise it in the house.

The MP said that he spent Rs 12.5 lakh from the MP fund for Edamalakkudy. However, the collector informed that the DFO said the project would be completed only after one and a half years. He said his term ends in April and therefore the money cannot be wasted. Rs 5.7 lakh was also spent from his pocket, he said.

Suresh Gopi pointed that when he tried to include Wayanad district in centre’s transformation of aspirational district programme in 2018, the then chief secretary opposed it. He said that he is not interested in revealing that official’s name. The chief secretary was forced to withdraw this at a time when he and P C Thomas planned to stage a strike. The MP said that despite being included in the list, big questions continue over it.

New born deaths in Adivasi colonies are still high. They are not allowed to cultivate products like ragi which played a major role in the health of the tribals. Instead rations are being stuffed into their huts. He pointed out that the law has been amended in the Parliament to encourage the practice of traditional Ayurvedic medicine among the adivasis. The MP also warned that their products could be acquired by patent companies in foreign countries.