Govt fails to implement Assadi committee report, tribal families suffer

Even after seven years of recommendations by a committee on rehabilitation of Tribal families of Nagarahole, the state government is yet to implement them. With this, the government has also violated Karnataka High Court order.

The three-member committee, headed by professor Muzaffar Assadi, in its report submitted in 2014, had identified 3,418 families, who were evicted from Nagarahole in the 1970s. The committee had submitted a final report in 2014 and had made 34 recommendations, including rehabilitation with agriculture lands and other basic facilities.

In 1999, Development through Education (DEED), a organisation working for tribals, had filed a public interest litigation before the Karnataka High Court, seeking rehabilitation for the evicted tribals. Thus, the committee was formed in 2004, to conduct a study.

The committee submitted an interim report in 2006 and the government accepted it. However, the court directed the government to implement the final recommendations within two months of the report.

S Sreekanth, director of DEED, said, “We have written a letter to Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court and Governor to look into the matter. We have urged them to give directives to the government to take immediate measures. It needs Rs 400 crore and nearly 10,500 acres of lands for rehabilitation.”

According to Sreekanth, more than 5,000 families were affected. But, only 3,418 families are identified by the committee. Now, these 3,418 families are residing on the fringes of Nagarahole forest in Hunsur, HD Kote and Periyapatna taluks of Mysuru district and Virajpet taluk in Kodagu district. The government is at fault, contempt of court, and the affected families are suffering.

According to the report, HD Kote taluk was the worst affected in terms of displacement. "The highest number of displaced tribal population is in HD Kote, with 5,832 persons, 50.41% of the total displaced tribals. Hunsur taluk witnessed the second highest in terms of tribal displacement with 4,095 persons. Around 35.39% of total displacement is from Hunsur, while Virajpet taluk witnessed the least with 1,614 persons' displacement, which amounts to 14.18%. Out of the total displacement, only 20.54% tribal families owned lands. Out of 3,418 evicted families, a total of 838 families own small pieces of lands," the report states.

The committee recommended fertile lands; training in farming, dairy and animal husbandry; for the victims. It also recommended strengthening of Ashrama Schools, for educational empowerment.

However, an officer, who wished to maintain anonymity, said, “We are ready to implement the recommendations of the committee. But, we are waiting for the directions from the government. The Revenue department has issued small pieces of land to a few families.”