THESE TRIBES CLIMB UP TREES AS SUN COMES DOWN

Madikeri June 8, 2007

It is the saga of these tribes. Every Sunset increases their blood pressure. Every night they are unsure whether they will wake up to see their kith and kin alive. It is the pathetic story of Tribes living at lakkunda Village at Kutta near nagarahole National park.

About twenty four families living here inhale fear and breth out frustration as pachyderms pose them danger day and night. “ During day time, we avoid being attacked as we can sense their presence, somehow. But during sleep, they can easily ride us”, they say. And hence, all of them have built houses on top of trees kissing sky. The years of fear filled experience has taught them not to live in huts on the ground, especially at night. As the Sun falls down, these people climb up the trees. Young and old, meek and the strong, kids and women, sometimes their cats and dogs have to climb up using the tricky, single bamboo with poking stems.

The chairman of the Tribes commission, Nehru Cha Olekar yesterday visited this Tribes colony, “Haadi” and was disheartened to listen to their saga of life.

He bombarded the district officials and said that he can see misappropriation in the funds meant for development of Tribes. I can see no development and God will not spare those who misuse these funds, he lamented. This will be considered seriously and I will recommend for action against officials, he said. ZP vice president Neelamma and others were also present during the visit.

CEO SUNDAR NAIK TRANSFERRED;

Close on the heels of Olekars visit and lists of allegations pouring on him, Zilla panchayath Chief Executive Officer Sundar naik is transferred by evening.

MLA Basavaraju complained to Olekar yesterday during his visit to the colony that Sundar naik has visibly misappropriated funds in the developmental projects of Tribes. He exhibited Blankets valued at rupees 50 being distributed to tribes and said that it was quoted as rupees 333. Plastic sheets worth rupees 250 are shown in the book as costing rupees 3320. Tribes had recently held protest against against the CEO and alleged that he has swallowed lakhs of rupees in their name. Sundar naik had exhibited quality rugs and blankets in the Zilla Panchayath meeting to take approval of the members and distributed low quality ones to the beneficiaries.

Basavaraju informed that the misapprpopriation case is handed over to CoD for enquiry.

The officer and a people’s representative even tried to avoid scribes from visiting the colony with Olekar and said that a separate press conference will be called to brief them about the visit. But the press which had been carrying reports of misappropriation had reached the place well before the officials.

Sundar Naik is transferred to Chikmagalore Zilla Pancahayth as a CEO. Nobody is posted to replace him.

COURT JAILS WIFE, LIFER TO HUSBAND;

District and sessions court here has sentenced to life a husband and four years rigorous imprisonment to his wife for murdering a person during 2004.

Kanaka and his wife Rani had allegedly attacked one Paramesh in a field at Kalkandur village at somwarpet. Both of them were neighbors and were fighting over an issue about fencing and allowing of cows for grazing. A fight in a morning in 2004 turned violent and the couple beat Paramesh to death.

The sessions judge Venkatesh listened to the arguments and pronounced judgement, yesterday.