The Hindu

Udupi, Dec 18: Members of the Udupi unit of the Moolageni Okkalu Rakshana Vedike have urged the Government to protect the interests of “moolageni” tenants in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, working president of the vedike K. Dharmendra said that the “moolageni” tenants had not got the land forfree. The “moolageni” tenants were paying a yearly amount (called “geni” in Kannada and “tiruve” in Tulu language) to the owners. In addition to the “geni” or “tiruve”, they were also paying land tax to the Government. The lands were given to them several decades ago by the owners because it (the land) had little or no value then.

Now the landlords were sending agents to evict the “moolageni” tenants. The “moolageni” tenants were being subject to constant harassment from the landlords and their agents. The Government should take steps to stop this harassment. The vedike also intended to start a unit in Uttara Kannada district, Mr. Dharmendra said.