By Mahadesh Basavegowda, Additional Programme Coordinator, Biodiversity Conservation
On December 16, 2024, we conducted a Forest Rights Act (FRA) meeting in Punanjanur. 70 Participants from 12 different tribal villages including: Bhadrayyana Dhoddi, Srinivasapura colony, Muneshwara colony, Hosapodu, Banavadi, Godemaduvina Dhoddi, Kullur and Bhoodhipadaga participated in the meeting. Although we have Individual Forest Rights and Community Forest Rights in the aforementioned villages, some people are not aware about these rights. Therefore, we arranged this FRA Meeting and Training in Punanjanur.
Dr C. Madegowda explained briefly about FRA, (IFR and CFR) and Status of FRA implementation in Chamarajanagar. Since many members of the FRC committee have passed away, we are required to arrange Gram Sabha and setup new FRC and select new members with 10 male and 5 female members. The villages already have CFR for grazing, fishing, NTFP collection, traditional practice and conservation.
Points made by KG Ramachandran:
Strengthen the FRC from the working organizations and continuously work with FRA and get all rights with monitoring. Prepare village development map by Monitoring Committee. Work quickly with pending applications because in case the FRA policy changes at the central level, we can’t move any files or receive any titles from the Government.
Points made by C. Konuregowda:
For 40 years, we have been working with tribals about their rights and other works. We are strengthening all Forest Rights Committees by ourselves and all of this was motivated by Dr Sudarsan. Now we are collaborating with Keystone and working well on FRA and agricultural work.
Points made by Shivanna:
Now a days all of us have forgotten the millet cultivation. With support of Using Diversity Project, we are using and cultivating all millets.
The following issues were brought up:
- Road facilities in Muneswara colony IFR Lands
- FRC Members changing required
- New IFR application filing needed in Muneshwara colony in Eucalyptus plantation
- Application filing needed for separate house patta
- Application filling needed for burial ground, especially inter-state burial ground
- Electricity connection needed, resolution requested from Grama Sabha
- Problems with Forest Department with getting permissions for house repair
- Documentations issue (Aadhar, Ration Card, etc.)
- One issue that was discussed was an increasing practice these days in all tribal villages is renting IFR land to non-tribals for many years. The land owners, who are tribal, do not end up getting any benefits of their own agricultural land.
Some people suggested that Keystone should adopt an entire village with all farmers and develop their skills and others related activities (agriculture), instead of working with few farmers in each village.
At the end of the meeting, members from Soliga Abhivruddhi Sanga discussed about how to monitor and who will be taking responsibilities for taking the FRA work forward in Chamarajanagar Taluk.
Dr C Madegowda suggested appointing one person from Keystone for working in FRA regularly. All participants also requested one person for monitoring and follow-up.
Photos by Mahadesh Basavegowda
