BANGALORE: Despite being vested with individual and certain community rights under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006, the tribal forest dwellers in Karnataka are still struggling to get their dues.Under the Act, the tribals residing in forests have been provided individual rights on up to 10 acres.Under the community rights, they have been given the right to collect honey and medicinal plants, and also the responsibility to protect animals and forests.But these rights have not yet reached the tribal forest dwellers in the state, said S Srikanth, convenor, Tribal Joint Action Forum, Karnataka.Speaking to Express, V S Roy David, director, Coorg Organisation for Rural Development, who has been working for the rights of forest dwellers for several years, said, “The primitive tribes are given special nutrition packages — about 29 kg of rice and grains every month — but now the government is planning to provide them money instead of food grains which would be Rs 3.50 per kg.” He said, “About 5,000 tribal families were displaced when they declared Nagerhole as a National Park in 1988.But they have not been provided proper rehabilitation yet. They are still living on the fringes.” Meanwhile, the forest officials had been declaring national parks and wildlife sanctuaries without the consent of the forest dwellers, which was against the rules, said David.To press their demands, tribal forest dwellers staged a protest near Anand Rao Circle at Bangalore on Wednesday, and are planning a series of protests in other districts.“If the government fails to act, a larger protest will be launched after October 2 by setting up an ‘Adivasi Parliament’ to discuss the issues.Then, we will be forced to ask the government to quit the forest,” said Srikanth“We have submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister and the Governor, and on Thursday we will be submitting it to the forest minister,” he added.
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