KODAGU
Acting quickly, poor labourers residing in Pollibetta built huts on paisari (government) land. When the authorities visited the spot, the labourers took them to task for not sanctioning land despite repeated appeals.
More than 10 families in Pollibetta have been living in rented houses for more than seven decades. Their forefathers and fathers had petitioned the revenue authorities to sanction them land to build houses. They want the government to sanction them houses under various schemes meant for homeless/ poor peope. However, successive governments have allegedly not heeded their demand.
Upset at the alleged apathy by the officials, they decided to occupy the paisari land by building huts within a few hours. After getting to know about the makeshift houses being built there, revenue officer Anil Kumar visited the spot and requested the familiies to immediately vacate the place. But the family members not only refused to heed his word, but also threatened en mass suicide if he evicts them. The officer had to return.
They demanded permanent grant of lands in Pollibetta which has many vacant Paisari lands.
