Relocation of tribespeople in limbo

Govt. agencies yet to find suitable land despite Centre disbursing compensation

The alleged apathy of the government agencies in finding suitable land for relocation has cast a shadow over the lives of tribal families inside the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had credited ₹2.8 crore to the joint account of the beneficiaries, Tribal Development Officer, Sulthan Bathery, and Assistant Wildlife Warden of the sanctuary in January 2019 to relocate 28 tribal families belonging to Kattunayakka and Paniya tribespeople in Chettyalathur settlement under the voluntary village relocation project of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

According to the guidelines of the scheme, a male above 18 years, irrespective of his marital status, unmarried female above 18 years, physically and mentally challenged persons irrespective of their age and sex, minor orphan, and widow or woman divorcee will be treated as separate families.