Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma: Architect of modern Kerala

 

"Greatest on the virtue of humbleness
An eloquent man who maintains the state of an ascetic

An icon of simplicity but of great dignity"

Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the last ruling Maharaja of Travancore, was adorned with the aforesaid qualities. The visionary leader laid the foundation for a revolutionary change in the social, political and cultural sphere of Travancore. His success in making Travancore a prominent princely state in India helped pave the way for Kerala state.

Born on November 7, 1912, Balarama Varma adopted the regnal name 'Sree Chithira Thirunal', as his birth star was Chithira. The prince was outstanding in his studies and well-versed in English, Malayalam and Sanskrit. He excelled in science and literature too and had a special fondness for photography and painting. Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma became the Maharaja of Travancore at the age of 12, upon the death of his uncle, but a regent was appointed to govern the state until he reached maturity. He formally ascended the throne of Travancore in 1931 and ruled the state until 1949.

Sree Chithira Thirunal challenged superstitions and social inequalities, thus conveying a moral message to society. He travelled via sea routes in order to make a mockery of the superstitions related to the sea. The Maharaja used his foreign trips to collect details regarding the cultural and artistic forms of other countries. The information gathered on lifestyle, patriotism, scientific development, healthcare and education was successfully utilised in the creation of modern Kerala.

The Maharaja of Travancore made the ‘Temple Entry Proclamation’ in 1936 abolishing the ban on low-caste people from entering temples. The epoch-making declaration, which emphasised social emancipation, was the first of its kind in India, and Mahatma Gandhi hailed it as an ‘Epic of Travancore’. This silent, bloodless revolution was a harbinger of many social changes in the state.  

Sree Chithira Thirunal was the first ruler in Asia to abolish capital punishment. He held the distinction of being the last surviving Knight Grand Commander for both the Order of the Star of India and the Order of the Indian Empire. It's difficult to list all his contributions, but many in the fields of education, transport, agriculture, employment, industry, health, and tourism stand worthy of notice.

He believed that education can play a key role in the progress of the nation. Sree Chithira Thirunal was instrumental in establishing various educational institutions, including the University of Kerala, Swathi Thirunal College of Music and College of Engineering in Trivandrum. As part of his reforms to the educational system, he introduced compulsory primary education and a kindergarten system. Another noteworthy contribution was the establishment of colleges for fine arts and a department of marine biology.

Development of public transportation facilities was a priority during his reign. The Maharaja was pivotal in establishing an airport in Trivandrum and building the first concrete road in India connecting Trivandrum and Kanyakumari. The pier in Trivandrum port was extended and the ports in Kollam, Kulachal, and Kanyakumari were renovated as well.

Sree Chithira Thirunal recognised that the soul of his motherland was deeply intertwined with the agricultural sector. He promoted a scientific approach to agriculture, encouraging the use of new techniques and methods to improve food production. The Maharaja established new farms and research facilities focusing on cultivating crops that were important for the local economy and had the potential for export, such as rice, coconut and pepper. He also set up a system to provide farmers adequate financial aid for crop damage caused by natural disasters.

He established the Public Service Commission and ensured reservation for the backward communities. Sree Chithira Thirunal successfully used his foreign trips to Austria, United Kingdom, Belgium and Rome to invite foreign investments and create job opportunities.

Sree Chithira Thirunal spearheaded the establishment of heavy industries in the state. It was during his reign that the major industries which form the backbone of Kerala's industrial landscape came into existence. Aluva FACT, Travancore Rubber Works, Travancore Titanium Products, Kundara Ceramics, Aluva Textile Factory, Quilon Pencil Factory and Aluva Aluminium Factory were some of the industries launched by him.

He was keen on infrastructure development in the health sector. X-ray and surgical units equipped with modern technology were inducted in major hospitals apart from launching ophthalmic clinics and speciality hospitals for the treatment of tuberculosis. Circulars were sent out to encourage vaccinations and hold medical camps in an effort to prevent malaria. His greatest contribution was the provision of land for the Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology in Trivandrum.

Kerala's first hydroelectric project in Pallivasal owes its origin to the personal initiative and inspiration of the Maharaja. The project laid the foundation for the state's power infrastructure and was crucial in meeting electricity needs for decades. 

Sree Chithira Thirunal played a significant role in establishing Thekkady as a major tourist destination. He recognised the area's rich biodiversity and took steps to protect it. This led to the establishment of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is now known as Periyar National Park.

Swathi Thirunal College of Music is a perfect example of his love for music. Sri Chitra Art Gallery in Trivandrum portrays Sree Chithira Thirunal as a true admirer of art. The gallery has a vast collection of paintings that extend beyond India, including works from Japan, China, and Indonesia. It is one of the few art galleries in India, which boasts the finest exhibits of both ancient and modern styles.

Sree Chithira Thirunal’s tenure ushered in the dawn of a new era – an era of political progress and social reform. He infused a fresh life into the administration, and the state pulsated with a new life. His Highness exhibited a rare degree of titanic will, which is the essence of statecraft. He will be remembered in Indian history as a great benefactor of humanity.

 

 

Recollection of a Millennial’s SSLC days

 

SSLC exam in Kerala is a significant milestone for both students and their families, who often take pride in their children's SSLC scores and hope for their future endeavours. This time, SSLC exam results came out the other day and I saw students who secured A+ in all subjects celebrating on social media and installing flex boards congratulating themselves outside their homes and nearby bus stops. The day Millennials received their Class 10 results, a time without Facebook, WhatsApp, or mobile phones, was entirely different from the day Gen Z students received theirs.

I appeared for the SSLC exam in the latter half of the 90s. Since the exam was over, everyone appeared to be eagerly waiting for the results. At that time, cricket mania was at its peak. I spent most of the time in the backyard (Kalyani Stadium) playing cricket and never missed the matches played at St George and NSS school grounds in Chathannur. Even on the day when the results came out, there was a match at Kalyani Stadium. It was around 5 pm. I was standing on the field with a brilliant catch and a run-out when someone called from home. My family friend who is a Secretariat employee was given the task of apprising the results on the landline at my ancestral home. I didn't care about the mud on my jersey and headed straight to the ancestral home. As soon as I got there, the phone started ringing. The score of my cousin Nadia was revealed first – 564 out of 600. Then came my score – 471. I was 9 runs short of distinction, a yardstick for intellectuals in those days.

In the next day's newspaper, there were detailed reports on the SSLC exam results. Tempers flared when my family spotted my classmate Jayalakshmi's photo amongst the rank winners. A piece of advice followed: "Did you see the photos of brilliant students appearing in leading dailies? It's time to give up your obsession with cricket and concentrate on your studies." Along with the newspaper, there were pamphlets from the main tuition centres in my hometown. I was counting on seeing my photo, at least in it. Much to my dismay, the tuition centre in which I was enrolled displayed pictures of the distinction holders and published the register numbers of students who secured first class.

During the time, even distant relatives were calling on the landline in my ancestral home to enquire about the SSLC marks. Everyone I encountered in my village asked the same question: “What score did you obtain on the SSLC exam?”. Jayalakshmi and Nadia were felicitated by different organizations for their outstanding performance. Chathannur Muslim Jamaat presented Nadia with a cash prize of Rs. 500 for her success in the SSLC examination. Even though the Rs. 500 cash prize given by Kunduman Muslim Jamaat was rightfully mine, another student was awarded the same due to my family's lack of interest. While Jayalakshmi, who bagged the 9th rank, later became an Ayurvedic doctor, Nadia emerged as an engineer in the Middle East. I went on to become a journalist.

 

Face-off with pandemic – a memoir

Kerala reported India's first case of Covid-19 when I scheduled a vacation to my home state. I wore an N95 mask during the trip in view of my friends' advice and noticed an unusual level of caution at the Thiruvananthapuram airport. The exit gate opened only after the officials certified that I had no connection to China, the epicentre of the pandemic. I came out and booked an Ola taxi. As I stood there, I looked around and couldn't see another person wearing a mask. The taxi arrived within 10 minutes. Seeing the driver looking at me suspiciously, I took off my mask and put it in the handbag. In my hometown, people were leading a routine life, and no one was wearing a mask. However, I wore a mask on the return trip to Delhi as well. Even then, I had no idea that the mask would become my companion for the next 2-3 years.

After a week or two, the coronavirus arrived in Delhi. I started wearing a mask regularly, and colleagues in the office even teased me. Even when the Centre announced ‘Janata Curfew’ on March 22, 2020, I didn't expect that things would get out of hand. I was thinking about escaping to my hometown, but the airport was closed before I could pack my bags. During the first phase of the Covid-induced lockdown, I relied on takeaways from the nearby Anees Kerala Kitchen. But after a few days, I witnessed a drastic change in my daily life with the restaurant closed and bread and bananas making an unusual entry on the menu. I heard the news that 'Swiggy' would be partially operational by next week and immediately took a membership in the food delivery platform.

Restaurants having ‘Best Safety Standards’ were highlighted on the ‘Swiggy’ app. I searched for Idli and Dosa and found eateries like Saravana Bhavan, Sagar Ratna, and Naivedyam. It was during those days that I became an admirer of ‘Nestle Everyday’, which provided a perfect cup of tea every day. Working from home using a mobile phone was challenging. But I had no other option without a laptop or desktop. Although I managed to do WFH, prolonged use of the mobile phone caused neck pain. In the meantime, I tried to find a variety of South Indian dishes on ‘Swiggy’ and had various types of ‘Payasam’ from Naivedyam during the evenings.

Restaurants in the vicinity had stopped serving ‘Thali’ due to the shortage of customers, and I was forced to have biryani during lunchtime. Regular intake of biryani resulted in losing my love for it. I went out only to buy essentials. The locals appeared to be least bothered about coronavirus roaming around without any social distancing. They even stopped and abused the Swiggy delivery agents wearing masks and gloves. Even though Swiggy assured no-contact delivery, I often had to go out on the road to pick up the parcel. One day, I received a WhatsApp message from Reliance supermarket in Taimoor Nagar informing me that I could get doorstep delivery of essentials as I was a Reliance Spice member. Getting essentials at the doorstep was of great help.

When the lockdown entered the fourth phase, relaxations were announced. I even considered escaping to my hometown on a ‘Shramik’ train ferrying stranded migrant labourers to their native states. Much to my delight, domestic flights resumed operations within a fortnight. On June 1, 2020, I fled to Kerala on an Air India flight from Delhi. Despite landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport multiple times, the overwhelming joy I felt when the flight touched down on the runway remains unfathomable.

My दिल्ली Decade

Sixteen years ago, to be precise, on April 10, 2009, while leaving Kollam railway station on a Delhi-bound Kerala Express train, I had the dream of becoming a sports journalist like OR Ramachandran Sir of Mathrubhumi daily. After completing journalism course from Kerala Media Academy, I struggled to find a job in Kerala but eventually landed a job at Doordarshan News in Delhi. I soon realised that visual media and life in Delhi are full of challenges.

Upon reaching Delhi, I contacted Ramesh, my senior in school, who arranged an accommodation at Sarai Julena, near Jamia Millia University. Ramesh worked as a technician at the Nokia service center in Nehru Place. He was the one who introduced me to all the Keralites there. Sarai Julena was a miniature of Kerala. Thambi Chettan’s Kerala Hotel, Ali Ikka's Malabar Hotel, Jobi Chettan's stationery shop, and many travel agents who disguised themselves as embassy officials exploiting the dreams of Malayali nurses to become angels abroad. Majority of Malayali nurses working in hospitals like Holy Family, Apollo, Escorts, and Al-Shifa lived in Sarai Julena. My favorite breakfast was ‘Chembavari puttu’ and ‘Kadala curry’ from Thambi Chettan's Kerala Hotel. ‘Biryani’ and ‘Porotta’ from Malabar Hotel added spice to my weekly-offs.

I met Mathrubhumi staff reporter Fahmi Rahmani at an internet cafe by chance. He came to Delhi with the dream of doing a PhD from Jamia Millia University and then worked at Milli Gazette, a fortnightly newspaper published from Okhla. I met Indian Express journalist Fasil at a fruit shop in Sarai Julena. At that time, he was working with 'The Statesman'. I expanded my friends circle through Fahmi, adding the likes of Vahid (Content Writer), Swalih (Fasil's classmate at Aligarh University), Anees, Sameer Babu (PhD students at Jamia Millia University), and Haris Babu (nurse at Max Hospital). It was Sameer who arranged for me a rented apartment in Satya Prakash Sharma's building. Sameer is currently working as an associate professor at Jamia Millia University, his alma mater.

Meanwhile, my close friend Aarsha got a job at the National Informatics Center in Delhi as a scientific officer. Around the same time, Ramesh resigned from Nokia and returned to Kerala. Aarsha lived in Lajpat Nagar. During my weekly offs, we had a walk to Central Market, after having masala dosas from Udupi Restaurant. It was she who helped me by lending money during cash crunch. Aarsha left Delhi in 2011 and, afterward, settled in Texas, along with her family. At present, she is a well-known non-resident Keralite.

In the office, communication was a cause for concern. 90 percent of my colleagues spoke Hindi. Another group who can speak English would deliberately answer in Hindi if asked something in English. I studied Hindi as a second language till undergraduate level and watched Aamir Khan's films. That was my only connection with Hindi. Then I tried to find Malayalis in the newsroom, and traced down Anil Thomas and Shalini Nair. But both of them were half Malayalis who rarely spoke Malayalam. In the meantime, I succeeded in making friendships with Aamir Rizvi, Narayan Singh and Ashok Martholia. Directors Madhu Nag Sir (currently Additional Director General, AIR), Senthil Rajan Sir (currently Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting) Anindya Sengupta Sir (currently Director, Centre for Global Affairs & Public Policy), Deputy Director KG Sharma Sir, News Editor Prakash Pant Sir, Anchor Swati Bakshi, Bulletin Editors Sagnik Chakraborty, Sunaina Sahu and Vinita Thakur provided all the support a beginner needed. I learned the basics of copy editing from KG Sharma Sir. Senior Anchor Mark Lynn Sir provided me with a lot of support to improve my English in a big way.

Meanwhile, I became obsessed with Hindi. Friendly talks with Anchor OP Das Sir and correspondent Kumar Alok helped me to fine tune my Hindi speaking skills. After a few weeks, I was shocked to see a change in the duty chart. My name was included in the early morning shift (4 am-12 noon). I soon realised that I had to do the same shift for a week every month. In no time, the early morning shift turned out to be a nightmare for me. Finding an English voice-over artist was a herculean task in the early morning shift , but anchors – Swati Bakshi, Suhail Akram and Ashutosh Pandey came to my rescue on many occasions. The only relief was having two days off per week. On a holiday, I visited Red Fort and Humayun's Tomb, which showcased Mughal architecture. Trips to INA market in search of Mathrubhumi weekly and Kerala snacks were comforting. I accepted the lunch invitation of Fahmi and Anees on a week-off and had a delicious biryani made by Haris Babu. Madhyamam reporter Hasanul Banna was also there. Soon, Fahmi's apartment became a stopover.

Fahmi, on a vacation to Kerala, had written the trainee journalist exam conducted by Mathrubhumi daily. Within a month, he received an appointment order and bid adieu to Delhi. I continued my friendship with Fasil, and one day, he introduced his roommates – PhD students Rahees and Saithali. Fasil's apartment was a mini-Kerala House, a haven for those seeking admission to Jamia Millia University. During one such visit, I met Riyas (currently Field Officer at PIB, Goa), who then worked as a sub-editor at 'Milli Gazette', and Muhsin (currently News Editor at Doordarshan Kendra, Thiruvananthapuram), then a journalism student at IIMC, Odisha.

It was in Delhi that I faced winter for the first time in my life. Visibility was severely reduced due to thick smog. Even though the temperature was around two degrees Celsius, the early morning shift at 4 am continued as usual. Sweaters, jackets, and mufflers were part of the dress code. Meanwhile, my health deteriorated, and I had to seek treatment at Holy Family Hospital.

I was lucky enough to be part of the sports desk that covered the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the world's third-biggest sporting extravaganza. At that time, Sankaranarayanan Sir joined Doordarshan News as Deputy Director, and I was happy to have someone who could speak in my native language. Assistant Directors - Sanjay Kumar Sir, Devan Sir and Vinod Kumar Sir (currently Prasar Bharati Special Correspondent in Dubai) also provided great support.

It would be inappropriate to not mention the two marriages witnessed by Jamia Millia University. The first couple were Anees and Rabiya, and the second, Limseer and Naushaba. I also got the opportunity to meet student leaders in Jamia - Anas, Aneesh, Anju and Shiva, and attended a film festival held at the university. Anas and Aneesh lived in the same building where I lived. Jamia students Hassan Sharif and Shafiq Pulloor, who were residents of the fourth floor, once came to my aid when I was bedridden with high fever. In the meantime, Fasil, who had got a job at 'The New Indian Express' in Kochi, left Delhi.

During my vacations to Kerala, I always looked for job opportunities. I was very excited about the launch of Reporter TV, Media One, and Mathrubhumi News, but failed to land a job on any of these news channels. I left Doordarshan News by the end of 2014, and joined Madhyamam daily in Kozhikode. Later, I moved to Dubai in search of a better job, but to no avail. After returning home, I worked as a senior sub-editor at The New Indian Express and Content Writer (Remote) for two companies in Dubai until 2017.

The metropolis of Delhi was still calling me. So, in December 2017, I returned to Delhi as a Content Auditor at the Electronic Media Monitoring Center under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Satish Namboothiripad Sir (currently Director General of Doordarshan) was then ADG at EMMC. An officer of high dignity and a perfect philanthropist without pretensions of status. At EMMC, I had a good time with my trusted lieutenants - Huda Zakir, Siddhant Tiwari and Nirbhay Singh. I stayed at the familiar Sarai Julena, that too, in the same building where I had lived for 6 years. Once again, I became a regular customer at Malabar Hotel. There were few familiar faces in the streets of Sarai Julena. A good number of my friends in Jamia Millia had completed their studies and returned to Kerala. One day, I met Jayaraj and Shiraz Poovachal, who were still in Delhi, at the Malabar Hotel. Thampi Chettan's Kerala Hotel was replaced by Anees Kerala Kitchen.

Covid-19 pandemic and the communal riots that broke out in Delhi made life difficult. Being stuck in Delhi during the lockdown and eating bread and fruits are frightening memories. When work from home was included in the duty chart, I escaped to my hometown. Although I returned to Delhi when Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, the realisation that nothing would be the same again prompted me to return to Kerala. I said goodbye to Delhi in January 2022. My hopes of getting a job in my hometown failed to bear fruit initially. "Do you know Malayalam?" - a question asked by the interview panel during an interview at a leading Malayalam daily literally shocked me. The HR manager of a leading Malayalam news channel went a step further and declared that they do not consider the experience in English media.

Looking back on the eventful decade in Delhi, there were both gains and losses. While the transformation of a person from down south to a Hindi-speaking non-resident Keralite comes first on the list of gains, the failure to become a reputed sports journalist like OR Ramachandran Sir features first on the list of losses.

Redeemers of Kerala’s waste management system

Kerala has made tremendous progress in sustainable waste management in the recent past, and no one can belittle the role of Haritha Karma Sena in propelling God’s own country towards a waste-free state. Haritha Karma Sena is a dynamic women-led team associated with Kudumbashree, tasked with the collection and transportation of non-biodegradable waste, working in tandem with local self-government institutions, Suchitwa Mission, Health Department, Clean Kerala Company, and other allied establishments. It came into existence in 2017 as part of the Haritha Keralam Mission, an ambitious programme envisaged to make Kerala a clean and green state.

Haritha Karma Sena collects non-biodegradable waste from houses and establishments to shredding units for recycling. Currently, 36,570 Haritha Karma Sena members are working across the state. The state government has fixed a minimum user fee of Rs. 50 for households and Rs. 100 for establishments. The money collected is divided up among the workers in the form of fixed salaries.

Haritha Karma Sena provides awareness on waste management to the public, guidance on composting systems that can be installed in homes and institutions, and necessary equipment for homes and institutions to dispose of organic waste at source. Apart from dealing with problems arising from disposal of waste at source and ensuring assistance of Green Aid Institutions if required, they focus on new income opportunities by starting green enterprises that manufacture new products from waste materials. Haritha Karma Sena is also engaged in activities like organic farming, manufacturing of eco-friendly products, and providing environment-friendly equipment on rent.

Despite being a key workforce ensuring scientific waste management in the state, a significant section of Haritha Karma Sena members still struggles with low income. Only 50% of the workforce earn up to Rs. 15000 per month. Moreover, the swachhata warriors face derogatory remarks and actions, especially from those who are reluctant to pay user fees.

Against all odds, Haritha Karma Sena emerges as a true symbol of environmental stewardship, contributing to women's empowerment, skill development, income generation, and community awareness.

വന്യമൃഗങ്ങള്‍ കാടിറങ്ങുമ്പോള്‍

കാടും നാടും തമ്മിലുള്ള അതിർവരമ്പുകൾ ഇല്ലാതാകുന്ന ഒരു കാലഘട്ടത്തിലാണ് നാമിന്നു ജീവിക്കുന്നത്. മനുഷ്യജീവനും സ്വത്തിനും ഭീഷണി ഉയർത്തുന്ന അപകടകരമായ തലത്തിലേക്ക് മനുഷ്യ-വന്യജീവി സംഘർഷങ്ങൾ വളർന്നിരിക്കുന്നു. കേരളത്തിലെ മലയോര മേഖലയിൽ വന്യജീവി ആക്രമണങ്ങൾ സർവ്വസാധാരണമായിട്ട് കാലമേറെയായി. എന്നാൽ വയനാട്ടിലെ ജനവാസമേഖലയിൽ കാട്ടാനയുടെ ആക്രമണത്തിൽ ഒരാൾ കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ട സംഭവം ആശങ്കയുളവാക്കുന്നു. വന്യജീവി ആക്രമണത്തിൽ ആരും എപ്പോൾ വേണമെങ്കിലും കൊല്ലപ്പെടാം എന്ന അവസ്ഥയാണ് സംജാതമായിട്ടുള്ളത്.

കാട്ടാന, കടുവ, കാട്ടുപോത്ത്, കരടി അടക്കമുള്ളവയെല്ലാം നാട്ടിലേക്ക് എത്തുന്ന സാഹചര്യമാണ് ഇന്നുള്ളത്. കേരളത്തിൽ പാലക്കാട്, വയനാട്, ഇടുക്കി ജില്ലകളിലാണ് ഏറ്റവുമധികം വന്യജീവി ആക്രമണങ്ങൾ റിപ്പോർട്ട് ചെയ്യപ്പെടുന്നത്. ഇടുക്കിയിലെ ചിന്നക്കനാൽ, ശാന്തൻപാറ മേഖലകളിലെ ജനങ്ങളെ ഭീതിയിലാഴ്ത്തിയ അരിക്കൊമ്പൻ എന്ന കാട്ടാനയെ മയക്കുവെടി വെച്ച് പിടികൂടി പെരിയാർ കടുവ സങ്കേതത്തിൽ വിടാൻ കേരള സർക്കാർ ചിലവഴിച്ചത് 80 ലക്ഷത്തോളം രൂപയാണ്. അരി ഇഷ്ടഭക്ഷണമാക്കിയ അരിക്കൊമ്പന്റെ ആക്രമണത്തിൽ 7 പേർ കൊല്ലപ്പെടുകയും നിരവധി വീടുകളും, റേഷൻ കടകളും തകർക്കപ്പെടുകയും ചെയ്തിട്ടുണ്ട്. കേരള വനംവകുപ്പിന്റെ ചരിത്രത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും ദുഷ്ക്കരമായ ദൗത്യമായിരുന്നു 'മിഷൻ അരിക്കൊമ്പൻ'. വയനാട് മാനന്തവാടിയിൽ കടുവയുടെ ആക്രമണത്തിൽ കർഷകൻ കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടിട്ട് അധികനാളായിട്ടില്ല.

സംസ്ഥാനത്ത് മനുഷ്യ-വന്യജീവി സംഘർഷ കേസുകളിൽ 20 ശതമാനം വർധനവുണ്ടായതായി വനം വകുപ്പിന്റെ കണക്കുകൾ വ്യക്തമാക്കുന്നു. കേരളത്തിൽ ഇത്തരം സംഘർഷങ്ങൾ നേരിടുന്ന ആയിരത്തിലധികം പ്രദേശങ്ങൾ വകുപ്പ് കണ്ടെത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. ഓരോ വർഷവും ആനയുടെ ആക്രമണത്തിൽ മരിക്കുന്നവരുടെ എണ്ണം കൂടിവരികയാണ്. 2018 നും 2022 നും ഇടയിൽ കാട്ടാന ആക്രമണത്തിൽ മാത്രം 105 പേർ കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടു. വനംവകുപ്പിന്റെ രേഖകൾ പ്രകാരം കഴിഞ്ഞ 15 വർഷത്തിനിടെ 1500-ഓളം ആളുകൾക്ക് മനുഷ്യ-വന്യജീവി സംഘർഷങ്ങളുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട സംഭവങ്ങളിൽ ജീവൻ നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടു. കോടിക്കണക്കിനു രൂപയുടെ കൃഷി നാശത്തിനു പുറമെ നൂറുകണക്കിന് വളർത്തുമൃഗങ്ങളും വന്യജീവികളുടെ ആക്രമണത്തിനിരയായി. വനാതിർത്തികളിൽ താമസിക്കുന്ന കർഷകർക്ക് ഏറ്റവും കൂടുതൽ നാശനഷ്ടം വരുത്തിയത് ആനകളും കുരങ്ങുകളും കാട്ടുപന്നികളുമാണ്.

കേരളത്തിന്റെ മൊത്തം ഭൂപ്രദേശത്തിന്റെ ഏകദേശം 30% വനമാണ്. ശരാശരി 70 കിലോമീറ്റർ വീതിയും 3.46 കോടിയിലധികം ജനസംഖ്യയുമുള്ള താരതമ്യേന ചെറിയ സംസ്ഥാനമായ കേരളത്തിൽ, സംരക്ഷിത വനമേഖലകൾക്ക് സമീപമാണ് ജനസാന്ദ്രതയുള്ള നിരവധി ജനവാസ കേന്ദ്രങ്ങൾ സ്ഥിതി ചെയ്യുന്നത്. കൂടാതെ, ധാരാളം കൃഷിതോട്ടങ്ങളും വന്യജീവികളുടെ ആവാസകേന്ദ്രങ്ങൾക്ക് സമീപമാണ്. അടിക്കടിയുണ്ടാകുന്ന വന്യമൃഗങ്ങളുടെ ആക്രമണത്തെത്തുടർന്നു വനത്തോട് ചേർന്നുള്ള പ്രദേശങ്ങളിലെ കൃഷിയിൽനിന്ന് കർഷകർ പിന്മാറുന്ന അവസ്ഥയാണ് നിലവിലുള്ളത്. ജീവഹാനിക്കും വിളനാശത്തിനും ഉചിതമായ നഷ്ടപരിഹാരം നൽകാൻ സംവിധാനമില്ലാത്തതും കർഷകരെ കൃഷിയിൽ നിന്ന് പിന്മാറാൻ പ്രേരിപ്പിക്കുന്ന ഘടകമാണ്.

വന്യജീവികളുടെ ആവാസകേന്ദ്രങ്ങൾക്ക് സമീപം കൃഷി ചെയ്യുന്നതും, ആന, കടുവ, കാട്ടുപന്നി തുടങ്ങിയ മൃഗങ്ങളുടെ എണ്ണത്തിൽ ഗണ്യമായ വർധനവുണ്ടായതും, വന്യജീവികളുടെ ആവാസകേന്ദ്രങ്ങളിൽ ഒറ്റപ്പെട്ട സമയങ്ങളിൽ കന്നുകാലികളുടെയും മനുഷ്യരുടെയും സഞ്ചാരവുമാണ് മനുഷ്യ-വന്യജീവി സംഘർഷത്തിന്റെ പ്രധാന കാരണങ്ങളായി വിദഗ്ധർ ചൂണ്ടിക്കാട്ടുന്നത്. വികസനത്തിന്റെ പേരില്‍ നടക്കുന്ന വന്‍തോതിലുള്ള വനനാശവും കുടിയേറ്റവും സൃഷ്ടിച്ച ആവാസവ്യവസ്ഥകളുടെ ശോഷണം, പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് ഭക്ഷണ ദൗർലഭ്യവും, ജലസ്രോതസ്സുകളുടെ അപരാപ്ത്യതയും മൂലം പുതിയ മേച്ചിൽപ്പുറങ്ങൾ തേടിയുള്ള വന്യജീവികളുടെ പ്രയാണം മറ്റൊരു കാരണമായി പറയുന്നു. നേച്ചർ ക്ലൈമറ്റ് ചേഞ്ച് മാസിക അടുത്തിടെ പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിച്ച ഒരു പഠന റിപ്പോർട്ട് പ്രകാരം കാലാവസ്ഥാ വ്യതിയാനം വന്യമൃഗങ്ങൾക്കും അവയുടെ ആവാസ വ്യവസ്ഥകൾക്കും ഭീഷണിയുയർത്തി മനുഷ്യ-വന്യജീവി സംഘർഷത്തിനുള്ള സാധ്യത വർധിപ്പിക്കുന്നു.

മനുഷ്യർക്കും വന്യമൃഗങ്ങൾക്കും നിലനില്പിനാവശ്യമായ ഇടമുണ്ടെന്ന് ഉറപ്പാക്കുകയാണ് മനുഷ്യ-വന്യജീവി സംഘർഷ പരിഹാരത്തിന്റെ അടിസ്ഥാനം. വനപ്രദേശങ്ങളും പ്രകൃതിദത്ത ആവാസ വ്യവസ്ഥകളും സംരക്ഷിക്കേണ്ടത് പോലെ തന്നെ പ്രധാനമാണ് ജനവാസ മേഖലയ്ക്ക് ചുറ്റും കാട്ടിനുള്ളിൽ 2-3 കിലോമീറ്റർ ബഫർ സോൺ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്നത്. അതുപോലെ വനാതിർത്തിയിൽ സൗരോർജവേലികളും കിടങ്ങുകളും പണിയുന്നത് വഴി കർഷകരെയും കൃഷിയിടങ്ങളെയും വന്യമൃഗങ്ങളുടെ ആക്രമണത്തിൽ നിന്നും സംരക്ഷിക്കാം.

കാടിറങ്ങുന്ന വന്യമൃഗങ്ങൾ എല്ലാക്കാലത്തും മനുഷ്യന് വെല്ലുവിളിയാണ്. മനുഷ്യ-വന്യജീവി സംഘർഷത്തിന് ശാശ്വത പരിഹാരം കണ്ടെത്തേണ്ടുന്നതിനുള്ള സമയം അതിക്രമിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു. ജനങ്ങളുടെ ജീവനും സ്വത്തിനും സംരക്ഷണം നൽകേണ്ടത് ഭരണകൂടത്തിന്റെ ഉത്തരവാദിത്വമാണ്. സർക്കാർ ഉണർന്നു പ്രവർത്തിക്കുമെന്ന് നമുക്ക് പ്രത്യാശിക്കാം.

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