JOIN USThe life of those living in hamlets inside the Kudremukh National Park is challenging, to say the least. Deprived of basic amenities, they are willing to move out of the forest and be rehabilitated elsewhere. However, compensation seems to be the bone of contention. The government’s offer of Rs 10 lakh per family has not gone down too well with the residents of these hamlets, reports Rajesh Shrivana.
To say their life in the forest is an ordeal would be an understatement. We are talking about those residing in the Kudremukh National Park. “It is a difficult life for us here. We don’t have even the most basic amenities. Even if we are given these amenities at this stage, we no longer want to live a solitary life. Each house is separated by a distance of 4-5 km. If the expenditure to be used for basic amenities is used for our rehabilitation, there is hope for a permanent solution. The National Park needs to be conserved, and rehabilitation programmes should be implemented at the earliest.” This is the plea of those living in Kuthlur, Naavur, Naaravi, Sulkeri, Mogru, Malavanthige, Elneeru and Shirlalu villages in Belthangady taluk.
This story is nothing new, neither are the demands of residents here. They have been appealing to the government seeking rehabilitation from the last five to six years. Ever since they have presented a memorandum of demands to authorities concerned, their interest in agriculture has dropped. Their areca, coconut and plantain crops are all withering away without adequate water. Residents in the region are eager to join the mainstream of society and are feeling helpless owing to the lack of clarity in decision-making on the part of the government.
Deep in the forest
Collection of forest produce was an important source of income for residents earlier, but that is no longer the case. The areas inside the National Park include Aalamba, Madike, Malejanda, Baremgadi, Kuriyadi, Kotindyadka, Panjalu, Nangaje, Perincha, Onjardadi, Bardaje, Maila, and Anjarattu. As many as 52 families have been living in these hamlets. The overall population is about 450. It is a difficult trek one has to undertake to reach the homes of these families. The question of motorable roads does not even arise. The plight of residents here during the rainy season is unimaginable.
When the Western Ghats region receives heavy rainfall during the monsoon, people here are cut off from the rest of the world. If someone from one of these families falls ill, they will have to be taken to Sulkeri main road, and then, reach Naaravi primary health centre. Pregnant women will have to stay elsewhere to reach a health care centre in time.
Students have to take the long and winding road in the forest to reach school at Sulkeri. This is made worse in the rainy season by leeches. Keerthika, who walks up to Sulkeri Government School from Nellitadka shudders when she thinks of the wild boars and other animals she encounters on her way to school. She is still studying in the fifth standard.
Not enough compensation
Some families that were earlier residing in the National Park have already been rehabilitated because they have taken the Rs 10 lakh compensation offered to them. Sundara Malekudiya and his family have been rehabilitated five years ago.
Six families in Aalamba and Kuriyadi have already been rehabilitated.
It is the Horticulture Department and the Public Works Department that affix a price on the arable land that these families own. Out of the 52 families inside the park, 18 families are waiting for compensation. But, the rehabilitation programme has been stalled because of unscientific compensation polices.
These families have been living here for generations, spanning several decades or even a century. The worth of all their property, land and farms often runs into more than Rs 10 lakh. They, therefore, question the government’s compensation.
“The overall worth of my agricultural land and home is nearly 60 lakh,” points out Babu Malekudiya of Kuriyadu.
This just one example. Nellitadka’s Sadanand Bhat has areca trees on 750 acres, 30 coconut trees, black pepper and a house. He owns one acre and 23 cents of land. The worth of his property has been fixed at Rs 15 lakh.
Similarly, Malejanda’s Rama Malekudiya has areca trees and coconut trees on his two-acre land. He has not been residing in his house in the forest for the last three years, though. Then, there are Malejanda’s Lakshmana Malekudiya and Sanjeeva Malekudiya who have given up their homes, agricultural land and farms and are working as labourers in a hut at Naydaguri. Their property has not been evaluated, and they have not received compensation, either. Nellitadka’s N Ramachandra Bhat owns 1.95 acres of land. Several generations of his family have been living here for over 100 years. Also Ganesh Bhat who holds an RTC has areca and coconut plantations.
No basic amenities
“It is impossible to hope for basic amenities such as roads, electricity, healthcare, education etc in the dense forest. A student who wants to continue with his Pre-University education has to travel to Naaravi. For graduation, one has to travel as far as Ujire, Belthangady, Karkala or Moodabidire.
Living here would mean one is deprived of a decent life. Caught in a helpless situation, we give up on our homes, property and life here. But, we need to be given fair compensation. We also need to be given one acre of arable land,” says N Ramachandra Bhat. Others who live here agree.
A memorandum of these demands have been made to Dakshina Kannada’s deputy commissioner, the district superintendent of police, Zilla Panchayat president and the district incharge minister, but not much has come of it, according to Rama Malekudiya.
Nearly 190 acres of land out of the 612 acres of government land at Naydaguri in Sulkeri village has been earmarked for rehabilitation. But owing to encroachments, only 100 acres of government land now remains. But no steps have been taken to check encroachment. Local residents complain that out of Rs 5 crore released for development of Naxal-affected areas, no amenities have been provided.