Kuttanad cannot be treated as a political laboratory: Archbishop

Changanassery Archdiocese Archbishop Mar Thomas Tharayil has said that it is difficult to understand how governments can remain indifferent to the problems of the people in Kuttanad, who have been suffering daily due to waterlogging that has not receded for four months and the resulting crisis in the agricultural sector.

He was speaking while inaugurating the Kuttanad Solidarity dharna organised under the aegis of the All Kerala Catholic Congress with the support of various organisations of the Archdiocese at Mankombu in Kuttanad on Sunday (August 17, 2025).

“In Kuttanad, a region of immense potential that has even drawn the attention of the United Nations, people are being pushed backwards in terms of development because of the apathy of governments. Urgent action must be taken to address the problems faced by the people of Kuttanad,” Archbishop Tharayil said, adding that in the coming elections, political parties should not treat Kuttanad as a laboratory.

The Archbishop said that the lack of follow-up action on the Swaminathan Commission Report submitted in 2007, as well as on the report of the Expert Committee in 2019, which led to the formation of the Kuttanad Monitoring Committee, remains a source of pain for Kuttanad and is forcing the people to take to the streets.

Archdiocese Vicar General Fr. Antony Ethackad presided.