Centre’s programme to rehabilitate tribals bears fruit
Caption: A view of the houses for the rehabilitation of tribals in Hunsur taluk. Picture right shows rich harvest of maize grown by the tribals.
Mysore, Nov. 27- The tribals of Nagarahole forest region, who depended on the forest produce for their livelihood and did odd jobs in the neighbouring plantations, are now gradually becoming self-dependent through agriculture, thanks to the rehabilitation work undertaken by the Central Government, under the directions of the Supreme Court.
More than 150 tribal families have benefited from this programme as they have been resettled in Shettihalli and Lakkapattana villages near Hanagodu of Hunsur taluk since Nov. 15, 2010. The tribal settlements have Jenukuruba (a tribal community) families from Kodagu district and H.D. Kote taluk.
Each family was given 3 acres of barren land where tribals have reaped a rich harvest of maize. On an average, each family has five members and hence, labour is no problem since they work at each other’s fields in a sort of barter system, traditionally called as Muyyi-Aalu system.
Each family is said to have grown 80 to 90 quintals of maize — enough to keep for own consumption and to sell. In order to encourage tribals to take up farming, Forest Department provided tractors to plough the fields and the Agriculture Department provided them with seeds, manure and other inputs.
The tribals depend on plantations for work, where they are paid good wages, especially during harvest seasons.
After reaping a rich harvest of maize, the tribals have already begun preparations for next crop. Agriculture Department officials are said to have advised them to take up mixed farming of crops like millets, beans, pulses etc.
Rajappa, leader of the tribals, is a Gram Panchayat member of Balele village in Kodagu. He is said to have played the main role in rehabilitating the tribals, with assistance from Living Inspiration For Tribals (LIFT).
The tribals are also growing vegetables for their consumption in their kitchen gardens. Their houses constructed by the government measure 50×80 ft, with RCC roofs, tiles floor, toilets, solar lighting and other amenities.
Talks are on to provide them with LPG cylinders for cooking and issue them ration cards under Public Distribution System.
About the rehabilitation
The new rehabilitation package for tribal communities and forest dwellers inside the Nagarahole National Park was launched in a bid to not only reduce human presence in critical wildlife habitat but also to meet the demands of tribal people.
The package is an offshoot of meeting the imperatives of Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, as well as balancing the requirements under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act of 2006, which stipulates that rights of Scheduled Tribes people and other traditional forest dwellers within critical tiger and wildlife habitat areas are not compromised.
The package ensures tribal rights with a few modifications and ensures space for tigers and other wild animals inside the National Park
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / General News / November 27th, 2011
