The Hindu : `Tribal people need better rehabilitation schemes'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 22, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

`Tribal people need better rehabilitation schemes'

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE June 21. India's wildlife and forests are facing a crisis of survival, even as the issue of the rights of tribal people vis-à-vis national parks is the subject of hot debate in many forums nowadays.

Speakers at a seminar on "National Parks and Tribal Rights" organised by the Jana-Aranya Vedike and Nagarika Seva Trust highlighted the dilemma of stakeholders and lawmakers over the question of putting tribal people or wildlife first.

The environmentalist and writer, Ramachandra Guha, who listed the reasons why many wildlife species were tottering on the brink of extinction, suggested that both the conservation lobby and the anti-conservation lobby that puts "tribal before tiger" should yield a little on their respective stands, and reconcile both issues so as to benefit both tribal people as well as wildlife.

Mr. Guha said that while claiming forests for agriculture was a millennia-old practice, and the last two centuries had seen forests being regarded as raw material sources for industry and energy needs of cities, there could be a meeting ground of all schools of thought to benefit all stakeholders.

Whether it was environmental projects, large dams and industry, or mining, the track record in the rehabilitation of people displaced by such projects was very poor in the country. Addressing these needs would wean away the tribal people from forests and bring to them the benefits of progress.

Countering his claim on poor rehabilitation rates, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, S.K. Chakrabarthy, said the law was clear on the sacredness of protected areas. National parks and sanctuaries declared so only in the past few decades had to be cleared of tribal settlements, but on a voluntary basis, with a good resettlement and rehabilitation package on hand.

Mr. Chakrabarthy said the Nagarahole and Bhadra parks were being held up as examples of successful rehabilitation models for voluntary resettlement of tribal people. In fact, thanks to the involvement of NGOs with the Forest Department, the Worldwide Fund for Nature - India (WWF-India) was about to confer an award on the two parks for this achievement, he said.

He also pointed out that in the Nagarahole National Park, the tribal families resettled under World Bank schemes had sought to be relocated, seeking modern facilities like education, healthcare, and livelihood sources.

The seminar was attended by the biologist, Ullas Karanth, and the litterateur, U.R. Ananthamurthy, who has been associating himself with the Kudremukh National Park issue, where the existence of the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. in the middle of the national park has given rise to a piquant situation.

Dr. Ananthamurthy said he had first joined the movement to fight for an end to mining in the Kudremukh National Park, and he was willing to be educated before engaging in a debate on "tribals or tigers".

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

'Follow up Govt. proposals in Delhi'

Wary JD(U) puts brakes on merger

`Tribal people need better rehabilitation schemes'

Keen contest between Kanta, Namoshi

Govt. may approve new medical courses

Thailand seeks foreign investment

Watershed schemes paying rich dividends

H.K. Patil seems set to retain seat

USIC staff demand higher pay

Buying `fresh vegetables' from a filthy market