<p>It was the forceful eviction of farmers in Kalasa hobli which gave rise to Naxal movement a decade ago. Now, once again there is a fear of an eviction among the residents. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The High Court has directed the forest department to evict 18 farmers who have been cultivating in Inam land belonging to Kalaseshwara Swamy temple, by December 31, 2012. <br /><br />More than 6,000 people are residing in over 10,000 acre Inam land and all are facing the threat of eviction following the court order. <br /><br />More than 10,000 acre Inam land of the temple has been converted into a reserve forest with valuable and precious trees.<br /><br /> Inam land spreads to Devarabetta, Karimane, Kallugodu, Mavinakere, Talagodu, Mujekanu, Thotadoor and Balige. At present, the Inam land has been converted into arecanut, coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations. <br /><br />The court has given its judgement based on the Mysore gazette notification in which Mysore rulers had transferred 11,000 acre Inam land to forest department in 1928. The present court order is applicable to 18 families. “We have been residing in the land for the last several decades. We do not have other land. Why are they displacing us. Where should we go?” asks Shankarayya. <br /><br />There are hundreds of such Shankarayya who have been residing in the Inam land for generations and were leading peaceful life by carrying out agriculture activities. Now the court order has put their existence in question. <br /><br />“About 11 acre was handed over to our family in 1929. We have RTC, title deeds. Now the court is stating that the land does not belongs to us. Whether animals are more precious for the government?” asks Karunakara of Lalitadri. <br /><br />In fact, the disputed more than 2,000 acre land has been sanctioned by the government itself. <br /><br />“We are ready to sacrifice our life and not our land. We have been suffering one or othe other way. We are ashamed to tell that we are living in a democracy,” said Appu Gowda. “We will fight for our rights,” said tribal woman Seetha. <br /><br />Farmer Chandrashekar said “we do not know anything other than agriculture. The administration is worse than the British rule.” <br /><br />“We have two options before us—either to appeal in the Supreme Court or seek help from the state government. The representatives form Kalasa hobli will meet Chief Minister on Wednesday evening to discuss the issue with the government.<br /><br /> Let’s wait and see whether the government will come to the rescue of the villagers who are in distress,” said the villagers. <br /></p>
<p>It was the forceful eviction of farmers in Kalasa hobli which gave rise to Naxal movement a decade ago. Now, once again there is a fear of an eviction among the residents. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The High Court has directed the forest department to evict 18 farmers who have been cultivating in Inam land belonging to Kalaseshwara Swamy temple, by December 31, 2012. <br /><br />More than 6,000 people are residing in over 10,000 acre Inam land and all are facing the threat of eviction following the court order. <br /><br />More than 10,000 acre Inam land of the temple has been converted into a reserve forest with valuable and precious trees.<br /><br /> Inam land spreads to Devarabetta, Karimane, Kallugodu, Mavinakere, Talagodu, Mujekanu, Thotadoor and Balige. At present, the Inam land has been converted into arecanut, coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations. <br /><br />The court has given its judgement based on the Mysore gazette notification in which Mysore rulers had transferred 11,000 acre Inam land to forest department in 1928. The present court order is applicable to 18 families. “We have been residing in the land for the last several decades. We do not have other land. Why are they displacing us. Where should we go?” asks Shankarayya. <br /><br />There are hundreds of such Shankarayya who have been residing in the Inam land for generations and were leading peaceful life by carrying out agriculture activities. Now the court order has put their existence in question. <br /><br />“About 11 acre was handed over to our family in 1929. We have RTC, title deeds. Now the court is stating that the land does not belongs to us. Whether animals are more precious for the government?” asks Karunakara of Lalitadri. <br /><br />In fact, the disputed more than 2,000 acre land has been sanctioned by the government itself. <br /><br />“We are ready to sacrifice our life and not our land. We have been suffering one or othe other way. We are ashamed to tell that we are living in a democracy,” said Appu Gowda. “We will fight for our rights,” said tribal woman Seetha. <br /><br />Farmer Chandrashekar said “we do not know anything other than agriculture. The administration is worse than the British rule.” <br /><br />“We have two options before us—either to appeal in the Supreme Court or seek help from the state government. The representatives form Kalasa hobli will meet Chief Minister on Wednesday evening to discuss the issue with the government.<br /><br /> Let’s wait and see whether the government will come to the rescue of the villagers who are in distress,” said the villagers. <br /></p>
