Gritty woman auto driver takes on CPM

Dalit woman says she has been ostracised by other drivers because of her caste

The ruling Communist Party of India Marxist, which is enmeshed in multiple issues where it is seen to be going against its own lofty ideology, has another problem coming its way: A gritty woman auto rickshaw driver, Chitralekha, who is refusing to cow down before alleged threats of the CPM’s trade union, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

The 41-year-old Dalit woman who chose to be an autorickshaw driver — buying a rickshaw with a bank loan — says she has been ostracised by other drivers in her native Payyannur in north Kerala because she belongs to a “lower” caste.

Livelihood

Most of the auto drivers in her locality are affiliated to the CITU, and she says they have been obstructing her very livelihood. Her autorickshaw, bought in 2004, was burnt down by her opponents a year later, and she and her husband, Sreeshkanth, who is also a rickshaw driver, were forced to flee their town.

On that occasion, some activists who backed her cause bought her a new rickshaw, but she and her husband continue to face threats.

In the latest move against her, the CPM-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala decided to cancel the allotment of 200 square metres of land allotted to her by the previous United Democratic Front government to build a house.

The government’s decision comes at a time when the house is nearing completion.

The government says she is not eligible for the land allotment because her family has already been the beneficiary of government land, but Chitralekha says the previous allotment was not for her.

The shock news has once again prompted political parties and social activists to rally around her. Undaunted by the government’s move to take back her land, Chitralekha has vowed to continue her house construction.

Leading Congressmen including former chief minister Oommen Chandy and K. Sudhakaran have already rallied around her, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has promised to provide her another site for her house should the government reclaim her land.

Bollywood beckons

Her struggle against militant trade union activists violating her right to livelihood has had such reach that a Bollywood film is likely, based on her struggle to face social, economic and political challenges.