Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, Jul 16: Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner (DC) M Maheshwar Rao said that title deeds will be issued to encroachers of government lands in naxal-infested regions under the scheme of regularization of illegal encroachments. It may be noted that issuing ownership of lands to tribals who have been living in forests, has been the main demands of the naxals.
He along with a team of officials visited a naxal-affected area located in Alamba forest in Kuthloor village near Naravi on Tuesday July 15 and gave a patient hearing to the grievances and problems faced by the people there.
He informed them that the government has eased norms for issuing title deeds. It would be enough if the people belonging to scheduled tribes and scheduled castes provide proof that they have been living in their habitats as at December 13, 2005 while for others, the family should have been living here since the last 75 years.
People approached the DC's team with several complaints. Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) superintendent of police Subash Gudimani, responding to the allegations that policemen belonging to the ANF commit atrocities on the villagers, promised to suitably instruct the concerned. He also assured that investigations will be held in a long-pending complaint that the policemen had stolen Rs 8,000 from the house of Babanna four years ago.
Deputy forest conservator Manjunath Chauhan said that power connections can be provided to the hamlets located in forest areas through underground cables. Puttur assistant commissioner Harish Kumar informed that those who have some education can opt to be self-reliant and there is provision for providing them training and creating employment opportunities.
MLA Vasant Bangera demanded provision of basic infrastructure to these people like road, power, telephone, title deeds, BPL ration cards etc., without delay. Assistant superintendent of police Abhishek Goel, tahsildar Chandramma, zilla panchayat member Dharanendra Kumar and several other officials and peoples' representatives were present.