Tribals in Wayanad to be rehabilitated

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The three-decade fight for rehabilitating tribals of Wayand’s dense forests is over. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on Thursday gave relaxation for relocating the tribals without the notification of ‘Critical animal habitat.’Express had reported in these columns on February 1 that around 2,750 families living in 110 settlements of Wayanad district’s dense forests were unable to move out even after giving their consent for rehabilitation.Earlier, MoEF had asked the State Government to implement the ‘voluntary relocation of human settlements’ project in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary after the guidelines are prepared for ‘Critical animal habitat’, which led to the delay.MoEF deputy inspector general of forests Prakrithi Srivasthava told Express that a decision to relax the rule had been taken by the MoEF. A communique in this regard had been despatched to the Kerala Government.“Now the Kerala Government can go ahead with the relocation of tribals with the relaxation of the rule. The guidelines for the ‘Critical animal habitat’ will be prepared later and notification will be issued,’’ she said.MoEF has issued the order and relocation can be started soon as the fund for the first phase of the project had already been released by the Ministry. The first instalment of Rs 5.5 crore for rehabilitating two settlements was sanctioned and the fund would have lapsed if the project was not implemented by March this year.Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithi has been in the forefront of agitation to relocate the tribals. When the project was announced, almost all the tribals and non-tribals living in dense forest settlements expressed their desire to leave their forest dwellings.  Samrakhana Samithi president Badusha said that the relocation of 55 families can be started within a month at Golur and Ammavayal, in Kurichiyadu forest range. The second phase of relocating 800 families spread across 14 villages can follow after the first phase.The tribals will meet Forest Minister K B Ganesh Kumar on Friday, who is visiting Wayanad, and request him to complete the formalities as soon as possible. When the project was cleared by the Union Government, the tribals had started preparations to move out and they had even sold their cattle and poultry, their source of livelihood.The package offered was either to receive `10 lakh for each family, irrespective of the land in their possession, or relocation by the Forest Department. A son, over 18 years, irrespective of his marital status and unmarried daughter above 18 years, physically and mentally challenged persons irrespective of their age and sex, minor orphan and a widow or a woman divorcee are treated as separate families.