20-05-2025
Jenu Kuruba families claim land rights in tiger reserve
Mysuru: Members of 52 Jenu Kuruba tribal families from Karadikallu Atturu Kolli Haadi inside the
(NTR) in
of Kodagu district on Tuesday put up a board in their haadi (hamlet) claiming land rights under the
(FRA).
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This board is right next to another board put up by the forest department, warning that trespassing inside the tiger-protected area is a crime.
With the board, reading 'Nanga Kaadu, Nanga Jamma, Nangave Alako' (our forest, our land, we rule), Jenu Kuruba families are claiming rights to their ancestors' properties.
A decision to put up the board was approved at the Gram Sabha held from 11am to 2pm under the FRA on Tuesday.
According to Shivu JA, a tribal leader who chaired the meeting, it was decided to file a case against the local gram panchayat officer under SC/ST atrocities act for allegedly meddling with the forest rights of Jenu Kuruba tribal families, as the local body has no power under the FRA. "Now, we are informed that applications of only 39 tribal families will be reconsidered, and the rest of the 13 applications remain rejected.
We will protest this decision," he said.
The sabha also decided to urge the state and central govts to implement the FRA scientifically across the country. The families also set May 26 as the deadline to grant them the Community Forest Resource Rights (CFR) and other rights of the FRA.
