Karnataka forest department’s vehicle service benefits students and patients in Male Mahadeshwara Hills

MYSURU: Jana–Vana Sethuve, a novel initiative by the Karnataka forest department to provide transportation services to those living inside the forest in about 12 villages inside Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, recently helped in shifting a pregnant woman to a hospital.
Ten days after launching its service in thick forest of MM Hills, the facility has helped over 5,000 residents in the villages of Kokkabre, Tokere, Doddane, Martalli, Ajiipura, Kanchalli, Palar and MM Hills as commuting on the kaccha (unkempt) roads of the forest have been made easy.
MM Sanctuary deputy conservator of forest V Yedukondalu claimed that this first-of-its-kind initiative in the country helps people living inside the forest areas to travel without any fear. “Villagers, especially school and college students and patients are greatly benefitted from the 24x7-service vehicles started after villagers were found struggling to travel,” he said.
The multi-purpose vehicle is helping the villagers commute without fear. In the last four years, six villagers were killed in separate elephant attacks and this was worrying them. Since the service of private vehicles is expensive due to the kaccha road, villagers are happy to use the service of forest department vehicles.
While the service is free of cost for students and patients, a nominal fare is being be collected from others. Vehicles are operated in morning and evening hours, especially during school timings, and in-between three to four times a time on four different routes. Service is available round the clock, the DCF stated.
Mahadesha of MM Hills, who often travels to Vadkehalla, some 20km away, to reach his field, uses the service. “It has been helpful to hundreds of villages,” he said. People were struggling to reach hospitals, ration shops, and educational institutions. They were forced to arrange private vehicles during emergencies, he added.
He added that the villagers would not be forced to travel if authorities provide rations under the public distribution system at their doorsteps.