Bengaluru: Children of forest dwellers have appealed to Minister for Forests B Ramanath Rai to provide title deeds to their parents under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
In an interaction meeting conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Ambika N., a class 9 student from Davangere, said her family’s plea for land rights was declined despite filing an application several years ago.
While responding to their queries, Rai said he would write to the Central Government to simplify rules for allotment of forest land being cultivated by the tribal people.
Kripa Amar Alva, chairperson of the commission, however, said lack of title deeds affects the children as their families are harassed for being illegal occupants.
Among other issues, the students complained about lack of transport facilities, no electricity, poor roads and the challenges pertaining to man-animal conflict.
Abhishek K.C., a class eight student who lives in Mudigere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district, said he along with four children have to cross the river to go to school or for any other purpose. “There is a road next to our house but we are not allowed to use it by the estate owner,” he said.
