Tribals who perform puja to Lord Mahadeshwara will be relocated

Mysuru: Tribals belonging to Bedagampana community, which performs puja to Sri Male Mahadeshwara Swamy atop Male Mahadeswara Hills, will be relocated out of the wildlife sanctuary. Bedagampanas, along with Soliga tribals who live inside deep forests, have come forward to move out of the forest area.
Currently, officials of MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary are chalking out a comprehensive plan to relocate over 225 families from Changadi village.The foresters are conferring with the tribals to ensure that the relocation of the village — the first-of-its-kind exercise in Chamarajanagar district — is carried out with their consent.
While the tribals of Changadi, which is an isolated tribal hamlet in the region, accepted the resettlement and rehabilitation programme initiated by the government, the members of other hamlets — Thokkere, Doddane, Medugalane and Parasnatha — had adopted wait-and-watch policy.
Forty-four families of Bedagampana tribes living in Thokkere and two in Medagalane, along with 26 Soliga families, have voluntarily come forward for relocation. The officials have held first round of discussion with them regarding the benefits from the government upon their relocation.
Thokkere village Bedagampana tribe leader Eranna said they had decided to move out of the forest as their place lacks basic amenities and faces constant threat from wildlife, because of which cultivation has taken a hit. “We have to provide education to our children and medical treatment for elders. So we have decided to relocate under the government programme,” he said.
The forest department has identified around 400acre land near Kothanuru for the rehabilitation of Changadi tribals. Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary DCF V Yedukondalu told TOI that the tribals have submitted a memorandum seeking the same.
“Considering their request, we have started the process. We have identifying possible areas near Ramapura and Kowdalli regions which are close to MM Hills. They want to live near the hills amajority of those from the two villages are Bedagampas, the priests community of Male Mahadeshwara Swamy Temple. We are considering their cultural, social and economical aspects prior to relocation,” he said.
Yedukondalu said that they live in small area, and in about 30-40 houses. “Besides them, people from two more villages have also offered to relocate,” he added.