All the plantation workers in the estates of the adjoining villages have been living in temporary tents for three years.
All the plantation workers in the estates of the adjoining villages have been living in temporary tents for three years.
For the past three years, more than 70 families, most of whom belong to Haslaru, a tribal community, have been living in temporary tents near Kalasa in Chikkamagaluru district, with no basic amenities like roads, electricity and proper shelter.
All the plantation workers in the estates in the surrounding villages, they were earlier provided shelter by the owners of the property. However, in 2019, heavy rains lashed some parts of the district, rendering these families homeless. The property owners asked them to leave the houses in the labor colony and make their own arrangements for shelter.
“As we do not have our own space, we put up a tent at survey number 153 in Mavinakere and have been staying there since then. We had applied to the panchayat for the approval of the same land for our residence. Though four acres have been approved, we are yet to get our ownership rights,” said Sanjeev, a member of the community.
The temporary tents are on the land where the families have been living for the last three years without proper roads, water or electricity. , photo credit: special arrangement
The Chikkamagaluru district administration had identified 12 acres of land at Mavinakere for the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people. Out of that, four acres have been allotted to these people. Despite several requests to the public representatives and officials, their demands remain unfulfilled.
Kusuma, a resident of the locality, said that the people of her community do not have water supply. “We have dug a well on our own. Now, during the rains, we are harvesting rain water. If our children miss the only bus in the morning, they have to walk to their school in Kalasa on foot.
Distressed families demanding rights over the land began an indefinite sit-in in front of the Taluk office in Kalasa on Monday. , photo credit: special arrangement
protest in taluk office
Distressed families started an indefinite dharna on Monday in front of the Taluk office in Kalasa over their demands. They want senior officers to visit their place and take necessary measures to ensure basic facilities to them. “If they give us rights over our land, we can somehow build our house. The government should also improve connectivity with neighboring villages,” said Sanjeev.
They protested holding banners and posters demanding justice. They also raised slogans against the taluk administration for not fulfilling their demands.