As Keralam stares at a potential crisis in the power sector stemming from inadequate power generation caused by a deficient monsoon, the newly formed UDF government is under fire for undeclared power outages during peak consumption hours.
But there is a group of people in the State forced to live in perpetual darkness.
A resident using a torchlight outside his hutment to check for wild boar movement.
| Photo Credit:
Nirmal Harindran
Shrouded beneath the damp, emerald canopy of the Kulathupuzha forest range in Kollam district, Arippa unfolds as a landscape of quiet defiance. This is where the pristine wilderness of the Western Ghats gives way to a fragile tapestry of weathered blue-tarpaulin hutments built on contested land.
In Arippa, the struggle continues for over 250 families who have been living without an electricity connection for the past 14 years. The occupants received land title deeds right before the State elections in April-May this year, but have been caught in administrative limbo between the Forest and Revenue departments.
An elderly couple make brooms using palm leaf ribs, their only source of livelihood, with the support of a lantern.
| Photo Credit:
Nirmal Harindran
Though the title deeds were handed over, the landowners are unable to obtain possession certificates from the village office, with authorities citing a previous objection from the Forest Department. The ongoing dispute between the Forest and Revenue departments has prevented residents from applying for any utility services, including power and water connections.
The entire process of handing over the land was conducted by the Revenue Department in a hasty manner without completing the necessary formalities, alleges Rameshan, one of the leaders of the Adivasi Dalit Munnetta Samithi (ADMS), which has led the land struggle since 2012. In effect, the hardships of the residents of Arippa have persisted even after the formal land struggle ended.
Kerosene or diesel lanterns are the only source of light at night in the Arippa settlement, in Kulathupuzha, Kollam.
| Photo Credit:
Nirmal Harindran
This has forced the families to rely entirely on diesel-powered lanterns for their power requirements.
Nisha, a resident of Arippa who used to travel 60 km every day to work as security staff at a private firm in Thiruvananthapuram Technopark, has remained at the settlement for the past four months, fearing her title deed would be cancelled if she was found absent during a possible inspection by officials. Like Nisha, other young residents depend on a grocery store in a nearby village to charge their mobile phones, paying ₹5 to10 daily.
Ajayan, a resident whose application form for land title deed got rejected, shows a copy of the application form.
| Photo Credit:
Nirmal Harindran
Minister for Forests and Wildlife Shibu Baby John recently said the Forest Department would not stake any further claim on the assigned land.
“An in-principle agreement has been reached within the government to protect the interests of the landless families,” the minister said. He attributed the ongoing dispute to procedural lapses during the land distribution drive undertaken by the previous administration in the run-up to the Assembly elections. “The crisis stems from allotment procedures carried out without completing the requisite statutory formalities. The present government is committed to resolving the issue amicably,” he added.
Nisha, who used to work as a security staff in a private firm at Techno Park Thiruvananthapuram, charges her mobile phone from a nearby grocery shop for a fee.
| Photo Credit:
Nirmal Harindran
Outlining a concrete timeline for redressal, the minister assured that the entire issue would be resolved within six months. He said he would visit Arippa in the coming days to interact with residents, assess the ground situation, and hear their grievances directly before taking final corrective measures.
An elderly woman leaves her hut to collect water from a community well. Despite harships, they choose to stay here fearing their title deeds could be revoked during inspection.
| Photo Credit:
Nirmal Harindran
Residents and leading activists, including Sreeraman Koyyon, State president of the Adivasi Dalit Munnetta Samithi (ADMS), expressed hope over the outcome of the recent ministerial meeting between the Forest and Revenue departments. Even as the Edamon-Kochi high-tension electricity transmission line passes through the Kulathupuzha forest range, the shanties right below remain engulfed in darkness, presenting a stark picture of neglect and social exclusion.
A community shrine that honours Babasaheb Ambedkar at the Arippa settlement.
| Photo Credit:
Nirmal Harindran
Published – August 25, 2026 02:51 pm IST
