Madikeri: Despite district administration making efforts to allot sites to tribals through lots, refusal of tribals to move away from Diddalli has put the district administration in a fix. The tribals with support from organisations have threatened to intensify their protests from February 14, if government fails to provide them alternate sites in Diddalli.
The tribals were facing uncertain future ever since 570 families were evicted by forest department .The district administration moved swiftly and located few places in Somwarpet and Virajpet taluk to accommodate displaced tribals . Accordingly 528 families were shortlisted by the district administration and allotments were made by lots. However, tribals are unhappy with the move are demanding sites for them in and around Diddalli itself and are refusing to move away from the present location.
The district administration has sent a detailed action taken report to the government. It has clearly stated in its report the measures taken by it in providing sites to the displaced tribals in alternate locations by taking over extra land for the purpose. This has been done by making provision to accommodate the landless and homeless poor in the respective taluks in the designated locations.
The displaced tribals are unhappy with the move of splitting them and shifting to locations devoid of basic amenities. They fear that they are being cornered with the offer and may eventually end up in no man’s land if they accept the offer of the district administration.
Simultaneously the committee of tribals fighting for the rights of homeless and landless tribals has threatened to launch a fresh agitation by February 14, if government fails to accommodate their demands by then. Tribals are demanding, the government and district administration to adhere to sticking to their earlier stance of displaced tribals in Diddallli itself.
The fresh demand from the tribal community has put both the government and the district administration in a fix though the political overtones cannot be ruled out in this case.
