Sat Jan 25 15:02:24 UTC 2025: ## Congress Launches Campaign for Kerala’s Settler Farmers Facing Wildlife Conflicts
**Thiruvananthapuram, January 25, 2025** – The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition in Kerala launched a political campaign on Saturday, highlighting the plight of settler farmers grappling with low crop prices and escalating human-wildlife conflict. The campaign, inaugurated in Kannur, focuses on the estimated 30 lakh people living near forests who are experiencing significant hardship.
AICC member K.C. Venugopal accused both the central and state governments of neglecting the community, citing the recent killing of a 40-year-old woman by a tiger in Wayanad as a stark example. He emphasized the government’s responsibility to protect human life and property, referencing Article 21 of the Constitution.
Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan detailed the farmers’ struggles, describing a situation where families live in constant fear of wild animals attacking them or destroying their crops. He highlighted the impact on livelihoods, with farmers abandoning tuber and rubber cultivation due to wildlife raids. He criticized the state government for expanding reserve forests and implementing buffer zones, further restricting the farmers’ access to resources.
The UDF also opposed the contentious Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2024, citing its lack of consideration for the human element and concerns about excessive power granted to forest officials. Several key Congress leaders, including K. Sudhakaran, P.K. Kunhalikutty, C.P. John, and Mons Joseph, participated in the campaign launch. The UDF’s campaign aims to leverage the widespread agrarian distress and wildlife conflict to gain political traction.
First Piper 