Land grab to shatter the dream of poor peasants

29 July 2015 09:35 am

There is a state-owned land about 300 acres in extent in Hewaheta area. Once a luxuriant tea plantation, this land, after years of neglect has turned into a veritable moor. 

Some time ago, the authorities decided to distribute this bare land among the peasants in the area for farming and applications for allotments from this land were called from prospective cultivators. 

And the applicants were eagerly looking forward to the day they could get a piece of land to raise some  crop which would bring them  hope for a better future for their children.

Alas! Certain moves afoot now, they say, are destined to shatter the dream of the poor peasants in the locality. 

According to latest reports, a certain powerful lady now back in the political scene as large as life wants 100 acres from the land allotted to her cronies while a Ministerial one commanding much political clout wants another 100 acres from the land reserved for his henchmen. 

Going by the developing situation, no peasant in the area is likely to get an inch of land from the 300-acre spread, they say.