The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Tribal people complain of harassment by officials

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Thursday, Aug 09, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Tribal people complain of harassment by officials

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: “We are the people who have nurtured the forest. Today we do not have the rights that foreign tourists enjoy in the forest, which is our legitimate home,” said Muttamma from one of the “hadis” (tribal settlements) in Nagarahole.

Even as the issue of relocation of tribal people to settlements outside the Nagarahole National Park remains a controversial issue, Muttamma and three other tribal activists, under the banner of Adivasi Mulabhuta Hakkugala Horata Samiti, met various government agencies set up to ensure justice to the oppressed sections. They alleged that the Forest Department officials were making their lives in the “hadis” difficult by restricting their movement and foisting false cases on them. A section of environmentalists were hand-in-glove with the officials, they alleged. A four-member team of the samiti on Tuesday submitted memoranda to the Permanent Backward Classes Commission, the Karnataka State Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission, Human Rights Enforcement Cell and the Human Rights and Public Grievances Cell.

J.K. Kala, a member of the samiti, alleged that harassment had been continuing even though the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe commission had visited the “hadis” barely two months ago and told forest officials not to harass the tribal people.

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes commission chairperson Nehru C. Olekar told The Hindu that he had written to the Principal Secretary of the Forest Department. He said he would take up the matter again with the department and hold discussions with Ministers.

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