JOIN US Speaking to Deccan Herald, ITDP Co-ordinator Lakshman J Ganti said about 2,262 forest dwellers have filed their claim for the title deeds. Of which, 2,067 belong to SC, 143 are traditional dwellers and 52 community claims (for collecting products). In the first phase, title deeds have been distributed to 96 forest dwellers.
He said “as Gram Panchayat elections will be held shortly, the process of distribution of title deeds will be hampered for two months. The department is giving priority to distribute title deeds to the forest dwellers and have the target to complete the distribution of title deeds to the eligible by the end of September.”
Those scheduled tribals who have been residing in the forest region before December 13, 2005 and those traditional dwellers who have been residing for the last 75 years are eligible to apply claim under Forest Right.
The title deeds have been distributed to 44 persons in Virajpet, 25 in Somwarpet taluk and 27 in Madikeri taluk.
In the second phase, divisional-level Forest Rights Committee has decided to distribute title deeds to 134 forest dwellers at a meeting on February 25. It has recommended the same to District level Forest Rights Committee.
In the second phase, it has been decided to distribute title deeds to 91 persons in Virajpet taluk, 20 in Somwarpet taluk and 23 in Madikeri taluk. The final decision in this regard will be taken at a district level Forest Rights Committee meeting next week.
He said the divisional level Forest Rights Committee meeting has decided to undertake third phase joint survey in the presence of forest, revenue departments, surveyors, taluk Social Welfare offices and Forest Rights Committee President. There are 154 tribal haadi in Kodagu. In every taluk, five haadi will be selected for the survey and all the eligible will be given title deeds on priority basis, he informed.
Ganti said under Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, there is scope to sanction minimum 10 acre land for the eligible beneficiaries.
However, the highest land sanctioned in the district is in Sajjalli girijana haadi, i.e, 7.05 acre. In the haadi, 60.93 acre forest land has been sanctioned to the tribals and title deeds have been distributed them, he added.
After the distribution of title deeds, rehabilitation package will be undertaken to provide basic facilities. Along with the construction of houses, road, drinking water, hospital, school and other basic facilities will be provided to the tribal haadi in phases, he informed.
Houses
Central Government has approved the proposal to construct 600 houses to Jenu Kuruba community members under Traditional Dwellers Welfare Fund. In the first phase, 36 houses are being constructed in Sajjalli haadi.
According to an estimate by the Assistant Engineer of ZP engineering division, one house will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 75,000. Of which, the department will provide Rs 50,000 assistance.
MLA M P Appacchuranjan has directed to consider the remaining Rs 25,000 as labour under Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The work on the construction of house will commence next week, Ganti added.
DH News Service