Conspiracy alleged in Agasthya ban

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the high court issuing a stay on the ban on women trekkers in Agasthyarkoodam, they have accused government officials of conniving with Adivasis to disallow them. The women trekkers alleged that though they got verbal promises, no government order was issued to allow them to undertake the annual trekking inside the protected forest. Also, minutes of the meeting they had with forest minister K. Raju on January 24 said women would be allowed only until Athirumala though they asserted, at the meeting itself, that they wanted nothing short of a full trek to Agasthyakoodam.

“I have read certain myths stating that sage Agasthya did not want women in the sacred forest. The fact is Agastyamuni had a wife, Lopamudra. So there is no logic in disallowing women,” said artist Hima Shankar who was part of the group. Five lady trekkers who were to be part the trekking group that starts on Saturday claimed they were disheartened. They came wearing full trekking gear to protest at Secretariat. Mr Raju’s move to allow women trekking had sparked controversy after Agasthyarkoodam Kshethra Kanikkar Trust said they would block them.

They further approached the court and acquired a stay on Monday. The Kani community argued that Forest Rights Act has guaranteed the protection of tribal rituals and beliefs. On the other hand, women allege that the government counsel had not sufficiently appraised High Court that constitution guarantees equal rights to women. “The forests are public wealth, and it’s a clear discrimination to disallow women from enjoying and studying on it,” said Sulfath M. of NGO Pennoruma. The women trekkers had stated that they want to trek at their risk with no additional security or amenities.