New Delhi: Human Rights Forum and Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Defenders communities have mourned the death of Jayasree Kakumani, an activist and lawyer.

Kakumani died July 31 because of cardiac arrest. The 61-year-old activist was among the active members of the Human Rights Forum in Kadapa and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh.

She is survived by her husband Akthab and son Anosh Raj.

Among her well-known works were the stir for the rehabilitation of those affected by the Gandikota reservoir and against the uranium-mining in Thummalapale. She challenged mafia and vested interests in Kadapa and the Rayalaseema region, caste atrocities, tribal repression, and domestic violence. She had an inter-faith marriage to defy discriminatory regimes.

In 2020, she joined the Talla Proddutur villagers’ protest against the Gandikota reservoir project, whose water had flooded their agriculture fields and houses. She stood alongside the people from various marginalized communities after a two-day house arrest. At the time, she had condemned the government for allowing the submerging of the village despite pending rehabilitation work at centers, including compensation.

Jana Sena party member Jaya Kalyani Akula wrote in her Facebook tribute, “In November 2019, I went to know about the problems faced by the people due to uranium mining in Kadapa district. I worked with Jayashree garu one day… She is an inspiration to so many like me. Human rights platform, Cuddapa convener Jayasree Kakumani’s sudden death is a loss to the human rights movement in Andhra.”

Kakumani was vocal about the impact of the government-owned Uranium Corporation of India Limited’s mining project on the lives of nearby residents. Many have complained about plummeting underground water levels due to drastic increase in sodium and uranium as well as surface water contamination. The persisting project also threatens air and soil pollution. Jayasree Kakumani with her organization filed petitions against such developmental projects.

However, the state government responded to her and the forum’s human rights work with UAPA charges alleging she and her organization were trying to provoke locals against government projects and join local Maoist groups instead. Around 27 people were named in the FIR including HRF member V S Krishna, Andhra Pradesh State Civil Liberties Committee general secretary Chiluka Chandrasekhar.

Kakumani was under constant surveillance by state authorities. Her family and supporters have recalled that she had faced multiple house detentions for her human rights work. Her contributions as a human rights defender were immense, they said.

Source: sabrangindia.in/article/jayasree-kakumani-no-more