Over 30 families of Gothi Koya tribal community are left in the lurch with the Forest Department officials removing their settlement, without any prior warning, at Devunigutta area deep in forest here.
It has been three weeks since the tribals have been forced out of their home. They have been living in makeshift tents near Pasra bridge. During the evacuation process, their belongings were damaged while they have no means of livelihood in the new place.
“We arrived in Devunigutta area first in 2002 from Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh in search of land and livelihood and we settled here. But now, we are suddenly displaced by the officials,” said Madakam Ungaiah, one of the tribals. One of the reasons for the officials to remove their settlement was that they were accused of cutting down trees. However, the tribals argue that they never cut any trees, only cultivated a small piece of land for their survival. The tribals accuse the officials of confiscating their cattle while driving them out of the place, while their huts were set ablaze and some of them were manhandled.
Madavi Kosaiah, another tribal, said they were confused now. “We cannot go back to our earlier place. We will stay here and fight. We cannot go to other places as we do have cattle and know only farming,” he said.
District Collector A. Murali said he could do little as the forest officials have a serious objection to Gothi Koyas living in the forest land. “I have offered them revenue land where they can build their houses and live on daily wage. But they refuse to go out of the forest,” he pointed out. Madakam Sudhakar, a member of Gothi Koya community, said they were ill-treated despite assuring the officials that they would not cut the tress.
“Our utensils and bicycles were taken away. We do not know what our future holds,” he lamented. The tribals met the District Collector and apprised him of the atrocities that they faced in the hands of Forest Department officials.
