Karnataka's Jenukuruba Community Seeks Justice for Forest Rights Claims

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, reports on the implementation of provisions across 20 states and 1 union territory. The Jenukuruba families residing in the AtturKolli forest area under K. Badaga Gram Panchayat, which overlaps Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, are at the center of a forest rights dispute in Karnataka. A total of 52 families have filed for forest rights claims, with most rejected at multiple levels due to insufficient evidence. These families have escalated their pleas to the Karnataka High Court while being advised to halt eviction efforts pending legal resolutions. The ongoing situation highlights the complex balance between tribal rights and conservation efforts outlined in the FRA, which aims to protect cultural and livelihood rights of tribal communities while maintaining ecological conservation.

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