Tribal issues related to Forest Rights Act and rehabilitation will come to haunt the BJP and the Congress/Janata Dal (Secular) candidates during their campaigning in parts of Hunsur and Periyapatana in Mysuru district and in Kodagu which is part of the Mysuru Parliamentary constituency.
The Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 was enacted 13 years ago to correct the historical injustice meted out to the tribal and forest dwelling people by recognising their rights over forests apart from the community rights over common property resources.
But there is brewing anger against the governments and the elected representatives for their failure to implement it as a result of which their applications for forest rights have been rejected. This resulted in a grave situation with the Supreme Court ordering the eviction of tribals whose applications for forests rights had been turned down.
“Though the apex court itself has stayed its earlier order and all State governments directed to file a review petition, the local MPs and MLAs have a lot to answer for’’, said tribal rights activist S. Sreekanth of Development through Education (DEED), a Hunsur-based NGO.
“The Act was passed by the UPA in 2006 and the Congress was in power in Karnataka for five years from 2013 to 2018 and it failed to implement the provisions of the Act sincerely’’, said M.B. Prabhu, tribal activist who is based in Veeranahosahalli, also in Hunsur taluk.
Will seek explanation
Between 2008 and 2013 the BJP was in power and C.H. Vijayashankar, who is from Hunsur and aware of the issues, was the Forest Minister for sometime but he too did nothing, recalled Mr. Prabhu. “Tribals will hold him accountable and seek an explanation in case he emerges as the Congress candidate from the Mysuru Parliamentary constituency.’
There is brewing discontent among the tribals that most of the welfare programmes launched either by the Centre or the State was not reaching them. “There is scope for creating employment under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana by extending horticultural activity to the tribal hamlets but none had been taken up.’
There are nearly 50,000 tribal families in the Mysuru Parliamentary constituency and the number of tribal voters is reckoned to be around 1.25 lakh who will consolidate themselves in the run-up to the elections to be held on April 18.
The tribals of the region have traditionally aligned themselves with the Congress but the new generation is vociferous and their patience has run out with unfulfilled promises and hence are not averse to change, said Mr. Sreekanth.
Meeting planned
The tribals are aware that both the BJP and the Congress/JDS(S) will woo them. Hence the adivasis are planning to leverage their collective strength to ensure that their voice is heard at least this time. A meeting of the leaders and elders of the tribal hamlets is planned in due course to decide their next course of action, according to Mr. Prabhu.