The Hindu : Karnataka News : Soligas decide not to vote; seek better facilities

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 13, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Others

Soligas decide not to vote; seek better facilities

By Our Correspondent

CHAMARAJANAGAR, APRIL 12. As many as 30,000 Soligas living in 141 colonies in the district have decided not to vote in the elections this time to protest against the issuance of a Government Order that prohibits tribal people from entering the B.R. Temple Wildlife Sanctuary for collecting minor forest produce.

Members of the Large-area Adivasi Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPS) have been collecting non-timber forest produce (NTFP) from the sanctuary for many years now. The Government, in its order dated July 20, 2001, permitted the levy of Rs. 100 on a cooperative society a year.

But following an amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the Principal Conservator of Forests, Karnataka, R.N. Rai, communicated to the Deputy Conservator of Forests, B.R. Hills Wildlife Division, Chamarajanagar, to take action to stop the collection of NTFP.

Nearly 30 leaders of the Soliga community met the Principal Conservator of Forests in Bangalore on March 16 and submitted a memorandum seeking the withdrawal of the order.

They noted that collection of minor forest produce was their only source of livelihood. They also threatened to begin an indefinite demonstration on April 13 in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office in Chamarajanagar till the Government revoked the order.

According to the Census, Chamarajanagar district has a tribal population of 31,150 comprising 5,318 Soligas, 150 Kadukurubas, and 272 Jenukurubas, who live in 141 colonies. Many tribal colonies, including Burude and Doddasampige in the sanctuary, lack basic facilities. While only 59 colonies have access to potable water, 13 "Podus" (tribal settlements) have open wells.

A meeting of Soligas held here recently came out with a list of demands for the economic development of the community. The Soligas noted that each of the tribal hamlets should have a borewell to ensure availability of water. Of the 141 colonies in the district, 16 had Ashram schools and hostels for students of tribal communities.

Apart from demanding better education facilities for tribal children, the Soligas demanded that the Government sanction five acres of land for each Ashram school and allocate funds to construct buildings.

They noted that 30 colonies were yet to be connected by roads, and demanded that the Government take steps in this regard.

According to a study, there are nine postgraduates, nine graduates, and 300 tribal youths who have passed the S.S.L.C. examination.

The Soligas demanded that they be given government jobs. They also sought a ban on the sale of arrack in the tribal settlements.

Noting that the Government had given fishery training to the Soliga youth, they demanded that the tanks coming under tribal areas be entrusted to Soliga youth for fishing.

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