Mailamma was directly affected by Coca-Cola's operations in Plachimada, in Kerala's Palakkad district. The water in her well (in Vijaynagar colony in Plachimada) had been so heavily polluted by Coca-Cola's operations that it has been deemed unfit for human consumption.
Mailamma was a central figure in the campaign to hold Coca-Cola accountable for water shortages and pollution in the area, and it was under her leadership that the community forced the Coca-Cola bottling plant to shut down in March 2004. The plant has remained shut down since.
Mailamma, a member of the Eravalar tribe, was the founder of the Coca-Cola Virudha Samara Samiti (Anti Coca-Cola Struggle Committee) in Plachimada which has spearheaded the campaign against Coca-Cola. The Anti-Coca-Cola Struggle Committee has held a continuous vigil directly outside Coca-Cola's factory gates since April 22, 2002, demanding its permanent closure.
Mailamma lived with her extended family in Vijaynagar Colony in Plachimada, and is survived by three sons and a daughter.
[Mailamma was the recipient of the prestigious Speak Out award by the Outlook magazine and the Sthree Shakthi Award in recent years.]
Mayilamma passed away on Jan 6, 2007.
Thanks to Savad Rahman for sharing this news and the lady's photograph.
4 comments:
മയിലമ്മ ഓര്മ്മയായല്ലേ!
പക്ഷെ വിഷദ്രാവകം ഇനിയെത്ര തലമുറ നമ്മെ വിടാതെയുണ്ടാവും?
Tho mayilamma is dead the protest against coke will continue.
Sudeep, perhaps you would be willing to edit Mayilamma's Wikipedia entry? Currently it has only 1 line of information. It was going to be removed, but it was found that she was "definetly a notable person" and so it was kept, but it still needs more info:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayilamma
I have put info available on thia page. I hope someone extends it to include more details on her life and her struggle.
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