In search of a ‘better’ life, over 100 families living in Chengadi village, situated amidst the verdant forests of M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar district, have voluntarily come forward seeking rehabilitation.
The families have approached the Forest Department and the district administration to relocate them to a place where they are assured of a house with basic amenities, farming land and other facilities. The village, spread over 480 acres, houses nearly 670 people. Villagers say they do not have access to road, water, sanitation and health facilities, while children often drop out of school after class 6 as the high school is situated in Kowdalli village, nearly 12 km away.
This is particularly difficult for girls in the village as they don’t have the option of staying at a hostel near the school, as Kowdalli hosts only a boys hostel. Access to health is difficult, particularly for pregnant women.
“More than 135 families in the village have already come forward seeking relocation. All that we need is a better life,” Chingadi Kariyappa, a resident of the village. “Because of the lack of amenities, not many from outside are willing to marry youth in this village,” he said.
What is also noticeable in the village is the demographics: several houses have only the elderly living in them.
With little to no future in the village, many youth have started to leave Chengadi in search of opportunities elsewhere. “Youth in search of jobs are doing menial jobs in cities like Bengaluru. There are instances of parents locking their house to be with their children in faraway places,” says Mahadev, a villager.
While there are 20-odd enclosures within the sprawling 906.2 sq.km. M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, Chengadi is among the first villages to seek en-mass rehabilitation.
After consulting with villagers, the Forest Department has identified 1,600 acres near Chikkalur, some 65 km away, as a potential spot for rehabilitation.
V. Yedukondalu, Deputy Conservator of Forests (M.M. Hills), said under the Forest Rights Act, villagers can be rehabilitated from wildlife habitats only after consent.
“A committee will be formed to carry out a survey and declare that the village falls under a critical wildlife habitat. After getting necessary approvals from another committee, headed by the Deputy Commissioner, we will work to rehabilitate the villagers. There are two types of compensation: monetary compensation of ₹15 lakh; or rehabilitating them elsewhere after allotting a house and land for farming,” he added.
