‘Forest Dwellers Act will come into force in two months’

B.R. Hills: Social Welfare Minister D. Sudhakar has said steps will be taken to implement the Forest Dwellers (recognition of forest rights) Act in the State in two months.

Addressing presspersons after visiting the tribal settlements in the B.R. Hills area in Yelandur taluk, he said that steps had been taken to form forest rights’ committee at the gram, taluk and district levels. Steps would be taken to distribute title deeds to the Soligas for the “patta land” for agriculture purpose.

He said that the Government would allow the tribal people to collect minor forest produce.

Grant

The Social Welfare Ministry would take steps to give additional matching grant of Rs. 10,000 to complete work on the houses of the Soligas. Of the 730 houses, work on 360 had been completed.

The Minister said post-matric hostels would be opened in Chamarajanagar. He instructed the Chief Executive officer of the zilla panchayat to take steps to fill the vacant posts of hostel warden.

Sidde Gowda of Manjigadde Podu told the Minister that his village lacked proper drinking water, electricity and roads.

Mr. Meena said steps would be taken to tackle the problems faced by the Soligas.

The Soligas submitted a memorandum to the Minister.