Jenu Kuruba tribe members allege harassment by forest officials

NT Correspondent

 Bengaluru

Nagarhole’s Jenu Kuruba tribe members, who make a living by gathering honey, allege that they face constant harassment from forest department officials and have been denied many provisions of the Forest Rights Act.

On the occasion International Day of World’s Indigenous People on Tuesday also launched a book on their struggles and demanded justice amidst the recent dilution of forest rules.

The members of the tribe claim they have been victims of forced evictions, threats and harassment at the hands of the Forest Department and large conservation organizations for over two decades.

 In a bid to raise awareness of the injustice meted out to them, the Jenu Kuruba members have authored an illustrated book, which is written by its Shivu, Thimma, Thimmappa, Somayya, Shanti, illustrated by indigenous illustrator Neha Alice Kerkatta, and collated as well as translated by Sanjana Acharya.

 “The Jenu Kuruba have been denied the forest rights granted to them under Forest Rights Act (2006) and have been forced to live in cramped settlement sites without promised benefits, adequate livelihood, or access to the forests they worship and rely on for livelihood, food and medicine,” said Thimma, a member of the community.

The Jenu Kuruba’s main demand is the recognition of their community and habitat rights and the rights of other forest-dwelling communities.

“This demand comes after the central government is further attempting to dilute indigenous rights through the recently passed Forest Conservation Rules, 2022, which will allow private developers cut down forests without first ensuring the consent of the inhabitants which is the violation of India’s Forest Rights Act 2006,” Shivu said