In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the old Mysuru region, the State government has decided to develop a model residential colony for landless Hakki Pikki and other tribal families near Srirangapatna.
A series of incidents of atrocities against the Hakki Pikki community and other tribals in different parts of the State, growing evictions of these families from government land, and the need to utilise funds meant for Scheduled Tribes are reasons that have prompted the Department of Social Welfare to develop a colony for the Hakki Pikki community in the district.
The proposed layout that will come up with the help of the Scheduled Tribe Welfare Department and other authorities will be at Channahalli, near Mahadevapura in Srirangapatna taluk. Soon, a proposal will be prepared and submitted to the authorities, B. Malathi, District Social Welfare Officer, told The Hindu.
The colony will have multi-storey residential buildings, uninterrupted drinking water supply, concrete or asphalted roads, individual and public toilets, drainage systems, street lights, uninterrupted electricity supply, solid waste management, frequent medical checks and other facilities. Residents will be trained in various skill development programmes. Personality development training will also be provided.
Ms. Malathi added, “We will open an ashram school at Channahalli to educate tribal children in classes 1 to 5. There is no dearth of funds for developing the proposed colony. Funds are available under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) in the district and they will be utilised.”
This project aims at improving the living conditions of the landless Hakki Pikki families, besides providing them with shelter. The Karnataka State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will extend all support to the cause, Revanappa, Director, Department of Social Welfare said.
Speaking to The Hindu on the phone from Bengaluru recently, Mr. Revanappa said that he had visited Channahalli recently to meet those Hakki Pikki families that had been rehabilitated following their eviction from a government land at Mogerahalli in Srirangapatna.
The Social Welfare Department has already asked the Revenue Department to handover title-deeds to Hakki Pikki families at Channahalli. The work to develop the colony will commence immediately after the issuance of title deeds, Ms. Malathi said on Friday.
The Social Welfare Department also plans to ask landless Hakki Pikki families residing in other parts of the district to move to Channahalli.
