Tribals turn to greener pastures beyond woods
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BANGALORE:
For all his life, Padmaiah Malekudiya, 65, lived inside Kudremukh
National Park. He owned two acres of forest land in Bijjale enclosure,
Mala Village, Karkala taluk, Udupi district. But the senior citizen
recently chose to give up all the rights he had acquired under the
Forest Rights Act, 2006 for a better life outside the woods.
After receiving a cash compensation of Rs 29.3 lakh based on full valuation of his assets, Padmaiah decided to benefit from better access to work, transportation, education and electricity, and safeguard his crops and livestock from wildlife. "I am happy to move out. These benefits far outweigh forest rights", said Padmaiah. His farm will now become a part of the national park.
If numbers are any indication, Padmaiah is among the growing breed of forest dwellers who are opting to move out of forests. The demand for rehabilitation, particularly in the Kudremukh National Park area, is huge. Around 650 of the 1,312 families settled there have submitted applications to the forest department to relocate. In 2003, authorities hadn't received a single such application. Today, the number stands at an appreciable 650. About 45 families from Nagarahole too have moved out, while another 100 are ready to shift.
"A sum of Rs 10 lakh is allocated to each family. We hand over the amount to the deputy commissioners concerned and they in turn build houses and assist families to move out," said PCCF (wildlife), Vinay Luthra.
www.downtoearth.org.in
Positive trend
On January 17, this year, the state government significantly advanced the cause of poor families marooned in hostile interiors of wildlife reserves through incentive-based voluntary relocation. "This landmark order is actually helping tribals move beyond forests," said BM Akarsha, senior conservationist, Wildlife Conservation Society-India, Chikmagalur.
After receiving a cash compensation of Rs 29.3 lakh based on full valuation of his assets, Padmaiah decided to benefit from better access to work, transportation, education and electricity, and safeguard his crops and livestock from wildlife. "I am happy to move out. These benefits far outweigh forest rights", said Padmaiah. His farm will now become a part of the national park.
If numbers are any indication, Padmaiah is among the growing breed of forest dwellers who are opting to move out of forests. The demand for rehabilitation, particularly in the Kudremukh National Park area, is huge. Around 650 of the 1,312 families settled there have submitted applications to the forest department to relocate. In 2003, authorities hadn't received a single such application. Today, the number stands at an appreciable 650. About 45 families from Nagarahole too have moved out, while another 100 are ready to shift.
"A sum of Rs 10 lakh is allocated to each family. We hand over the amount to the deputy commissioners concerned and they in turn build houses and assist families to move out," said PCCF (wildlife), Vinay Luthra.
www.downtoearth.org.inPositive trend
On January 17, this year, the state government significantly advanced the cause of poor families marooned in hostile interiors of wildlife reserves through incentive-based voluntary relocation. "This landmark order is actually helping tribals move beyond forests," said BM Akarsha, senior conservationist, Wildlife Conservation Society-India, Chikmagalur.
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