Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (SP)
Sullia, Jan 7: Villages like Hadikallu, Madappady and Jeermakki are located at the foot of the Western Ghats in the taluk. The families living in villages are fighting to protect their crops from wild animals including elephants, wild boars, peacocks, monkeys, antelopes etc. The live amid forests and face attack on crops and them and their domestic animals by wildlife. They narrated their experiences of life during the 'Chavadi Charche' programme that was held during the village stay programme of journalists.
The people recollected the way they and their parents lived about 50 years back at Hadikallu of Madappady villages. They told how they had to fight with nature and animals to survive. Shivanna Gowda Jeermakki, Padmayya Male, Chennakeshava Gowda Valtaje, Monappa Gowda Hadikallu, Madappady gram panchayat vice president, N T Honnappa etc explained their life when they were children, then the area was devoid of roads, power, vehicles etc. 'they had to walk to Guthigar 18 km away for daily necessities. They walked all the way through pathways in the forests and were under compulsion to reach homes by 4 pm. Paddy cultivation was the only occupation they knew, they had to carry things they grew by head loads to sell them. Sick people were carried by others to hospital by physically lifting them.
Hunting was permitted then. People lived in harmony. The villagers narrated how coconut trees were destroyed by groups of elephants and tigers took away four cows during a single day.
About 200 people from villages around the area took part in the programme. Zilla panchayat former member Bharath Mundody, welcomed. APMC former president Jayaram Hadikallu proposed the vote of thanks. Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists Union president Srinivas Nayak Indaje, office bearers Pushparj B N, Gangadhar Kallapalli, Lokesh L Perlampady, Dayanand Kukkaje and Pamanabha Mundokaje apart from Acchu Mundaje took part in the interaction.
Bhaskar Rai Katta and Mounesh Vishwakarma presented the programme.