Passing off money as rehabilitation not enough

A recent post in this blog had highlighted problems faced by locals residing in forest areas for generations. Most complain about the lack of irrigation facilities and other means of earning livelihood as basic reason for not being happy with the package being offered by the Govt. Though on paper the policy does provide for the state officials to ensure all amenities are provided, on ground how ever aparthy combined with corruyption is threatning to undo the well thought out initiative. A report in Indian Express today cites similar problems being faced by families residing in Anamlai Tiger Reserve in TamilNadu where locals are finding it tough to surive in the new alloted areas. The Rs. 10 lac per family package and land is by no means enough for families with little of no education to survive in new areas. What the govt needs to do is create employment opportunities for adults in teh families to be able to earn arespectable living. The bestway to do it is to involve them in forest protection and use their local knowledge to benefit the sanctuaries. along side providing education to the children of these families should be priority so that their dependence upon forest and its produce it obliterated in the long run. Only then would these rehabilitatoin packages become successful.

A 10-lakh debate with ‘non-beings’

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=A+10-lakh+debate+with+‘non-beings’&artid=k8YgF1KJ9BA=&SectionID=f4OberbKin4=&MainSectionID=f4OberbKin4=&SEO=aluminium,++Anamalai+Tiger+Reserve&SectionName=cxWvYpmNp4fBHAeKn3LcnQ==