District administration to woo tribals in Maoist infested areas of Udupi

The district administration in association with forest department in the district is all set to rehabilitate the tribal people in the Maoist infested areas by catering to their needs of basic infrastructural facilities and livelihood.

Deputy Commissioner Dr M T Reju told Deccan Herald that the programme is taken up to ensure minimum basic facilities to the people in the region. The programme is aimed at long term benefits. These programmes target the people in the Maoist infested areas and make them sensible enough to embark upon their livelihood sources. Rehabilitation packages provide a sort of self sustainability to the people there, he said.

Skill development   
 
Deputy Conservator of Forest (Kundapur Wildlife division) Manjunath Shetty told that skill development programme to be implemented in those areas is youth centric. These programmes are taken up to woo the youths of the Maoist areas to prevent them from indulging in anti social activities, he added. There are nearly 20 villages in the district which are considered to be prone to Maoist insurgency. These villages include Mala, Nadpalu, Kadbbinale, Nooralubettu, Edu, Andaru, Shirlalu, Kervashe, Hallihole, Yedamoge, Amasebailu, Rattadi, Macchattu, Hosangadi, Jadkal Mudur, Keradi, Kollur, Shedimane and Madamakki.

The Deputy Commissioner has released Rs 22.15 lakhs in 2012-13 for the purpose. Around Rs 19.05 lakhs are utilised for the programmes covering the areas in Kundapur division and the remaining fund was invested for the rehabilitation packages in the affected regions in wildlife division. Around 17 Village Forest Committees are formed to act as catalysts between the people in the affected areas and bureaucracy.

These Village Forest Committees act as the mouth piece of the system simultaneously ensuring the involvement of the public in the development process.Shetty said that around 340 youths were trained in the skill development programmes. Around Rs 2.55 lakhs have been invested on the programme. Under this programme, the youths are trained in tailoring, garment manufacturing, poultry farming and diary farming. Besides around 89 SHGs are benefited with the programme. There are around 1024 members in 89 SHGs. As many as 188 houses are offered with LPG connections. He explained that volunteers are appointed to gain confidence of the people in the region and make them aware over the government schemes. He said these measures are first of its kind in the state taken up by the forest department in the Maoist infested region.

Shetty claimed that forest department officials are in constant touch with the youths in the region. SHGs are utilised to the maximum extent as a means of empowerment. Besides women folks are given priority in the process of development. In future, the department aims to involve youth and women in large number in the self reliant and development programmes, he said.