B K Lakshmikanhayuru: About 40 tribal families, who were expelled 10 years ago under the central rehabilitation scheme, has now returned to their hamlet, placing officials of the Ministry of Forestry and the authority of the Department of Tribal Welfare in a difficult situation.
They also protested in the core zone of Tiger reserves demanding the right compensation.
After almost ten days, the authorities finally managed to convince the tribe to return to their rehabilitation center on Tuesday, convincing to overcome their complaints.
As as many as 43 families belonging to Jenu Kuruba who were rehabilitated in Shettihalli entered Nagarahole tiger reserves around 10 days ago.
As an authority of the Department of Tribe, they entered forest areas with permission from foresters with the pretext of visiting their temple near Bogapura in the forest area to do gods.
Ten years ago, the tribes were transferred from Bogapura Haadi in the forest for Shettihalli’s rehabilitation.
After they failed to return, The Foresters began looking for them and found them camping in the forest and holding protests demanding compensation.
When the foresters tried to convince them, the tribes threatened to commit suicide if they were forced out of the forest without providing proper compensation.
As a video clip of tribes that hold protests within the viral core area on social media, The Foresters, who failed to convince them, forced to camp in the area to protect the demonstrators from attacks of wild animals.
Prasisna tribal rights activists told TII that the tribes were forced out of the forest area more than a decade ago.
“The government has not given them rehabilitation.
They have not been given the land to cultivate or financial assistance as part of the rehabilitation package.
The Department of Forest and Income Blame each other for negligence.
This has forced tribes to protest demanding their rights,” he said.
“MySuru DC has given an approval of three months back to provide compensation to the tribe that has reached 18 years.
The problem is to be discussed during a meeting led by the head of the forest conservator.
However, before the meeting, the tribes launched protests,” he said.
Prabha Urs, who also met with protest tribes two days ago, said some tribes were unhappy with agricultural land given to them.
“They said that land was not good for agriculture.
Some complained that they had health problems in rehabilitation centers, while some needed cash to build houses on agricultural land.
We have managed to convince them to end protests and on Tuesday, they returned to their rehabilitation center, “he said.