Wayanad citizens demand immediate end to draconian changes in Lakshadweep

Members of the Wayanad Prakruti Samrakshana Samiti (WPSS) in Kerala appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 25, 2021 to immediately stop all “reforms” recently introduced in Lakshadweep as they will affect the life and livelihood of the community there.

“We are a group of concerned citizens, who have been shocked since a few days with news about the happenings in Lakshadweep. We call for an urgent review of recent draconian changes that should be implemented only after a thorough consultative process. The programs being planned there should have a long-term vision that takes into consideration regional, need based, consultative approach rather than the top-bottom way being envisaged now,” said WPSS President N. Badusha in the letter, also sent to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lakshadweep Administrator Praful Khoda Patel.

The changes referred to draft proposals such as the Lakshadweep Animal Preservation Regulation, Lakshadweep Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Regulation, Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation and amendment to the Lakshadweep Panchayat Staff Rules, that did not consult people’s representatives prior to their introduction. Moreover, the severe changes in a Muslim-dominated area was seen as a discriminatory move by the ruling government.

Badusha said that various studies by credible historical, cultural and ecological institutions have proved that the stability of coral reefs that protect the islands was nurtured and maintained by the culture of the homogenous community of islanders. They built an ecosystem-based economy linked to fishing through cooperation, tolerance and mutual dependence. Yet the recent changes do not consider or respect the time-tested ways of land use, ocean resource utilisation and or livelihood options adopted by the community, said the letter.

It argued that instead of the Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation 2021, the Planning and Development program, beef ban, etc. the government should work on access to safe and secure healthcare, education, just governance, food security and livelihood options connected to the island’s ecosystem. Such measures will work towards preserving human rights, democracy and ethnicity of the island community as envisioned in the Preamble to the Indian constitution.

“We look upon you with expectation and hope that you will intervene and set things right in the coral islands where each citizen has equal rights to options of livelihood, nutrition, land use and all other choices that hold a community together. We have much to learn from this community and let us not miss the chance and be remembered as being part of a generation that conducted a deliberate overkill of a way of life,” said the letter.