Kodagu: Tribals living within the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve will stage a massive protest in Kodagu soon, demanding that the Forest Rights Act be implemented. Hundreds of Adivasis are expected to join the protest from around the district.
Vice President of the Adivasi Tribal Community Forum K. K. Thimmu informed that the Forest Rights Act was passed in 2006, but the benefits have not been given to the tribals in Nagarahole. Despite many protests and submission of memorandums, their requests have been ignored.
He also mentioned that within forest limits, the Act allows for the sanctioning of houses for forest dwellers. Tribes have submitted all of the necessary paperwork for the grant of forest rights, but they have been denied for more than a decade.
“Our rights are being denied under the pretext of the “National Tiger Protection Authority” and based on pseudo-environmentalists’ comments. Tribals will not leave the forest as they have a special connection with it,” he said.
