Who is Mariya Kutty, 80-year-old pensioner whose ‘street battle’ left Kerala govt red faced

New Delhi: Former Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday shared picture with the ‘iron woman’ of Kerala, whose steely resolve brought the ruling CPM government in Kerala to heel and made national headlines too for her unique stir.

Sharing a picture with the 80-year old Mariya Kutty, the veteran BJP leader said that she was the epitome of ‘struggle against oppressive regimes’ and saluted her grit & determination.

“She fought against the Pinarayi Vijayan led LDF govt for withdrawing her old age pension. She exemplifies our Nari Shakti,” Javadekar wrote.

Who is Mariya Kutty?

Mariya Kutty is an octogenarian pensioner and a resident of Adimali area of Idukki district in Kerala. She is a commoner but it was her unique & valiant demonstration against Pinarayi Vijayan led LDF government that grabbed national headlines.

She fought a courageous ‘street battle’ against the misinformation campaign by the mouthpiece of CPM and also Kerala government as the latter stopped her pension for five months. It was after her street demonstration with a begging bowl that caught the attention of media as well as courts and eventually brought the CPM government to heel.

Javadekar said that her unique demonstration with a bowl & poster speaking about state govt’s ‘atrocities’ forced the latter to acknowledge its mistake and re-start her pension. He says that the woman became the face of Nari Shakti and was also acknowledged by Prime Minister during latter’s visit to Thrissur.

“She was present on the dias in BJP’s woman rally addressed by PM Modi in Thrissur,” Javadekar wrote in tweet.

What a power of social media!

With me is Maria Kutty, a 80 year old lady from Kerala. She fought against the Pinarayi Vijayan led LDF govt for withdrawing her old age pension. She started a unique protest against the state govt. by standing on the road with a bowl and a poster… pic.twitter.com/1jCywFAQCs

— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) January 4, 2024

How Mariya Kutty fought CPM narrative?

Mariya Kutty single-handedly took on the ruling CPM govt as well as party mouthpiece ‘Deshabhimani’ for spreading misinformation about her. She eventually won the fight and state government restored her pensions besides offering an apology.

Notably, the state govt is in threos of financial crisis and is said to be defaulting on couple of welfare schemes, however, it blamed Centre for the crisis.

Mariya Kutty hit the streets on November 7 with a begging bowl and poster saying, “state govt stopped my pension, please help me.”

Mariya Kutty’s unusual demonstration hit the headlines, however, party mouthpiece was quick to dismiss it as attempt to bring bad name to Pinarayi government. Deshabhimani also made some sensational claims about her financial well-being and published fake reports of her children settled abroad.

Mariya Kutty fought against the ‘misinformation campaign’ and proved the CPM mouthpiece wrong by furnishing evidence.

Eventually, Kerala government relented on its stand and re started her pension. Kutty got big recognition in and outside the state for her successful fight against injustice and today is hailed by many as ‘people’s hero’.