When Forest Department wanted to plant trees and close the forests for implementing
Joint Forest Management (JFM) programme, they have not consulted our traditional
social institution. Village Forest Committee promoted by the Forest Department is not a
democratic unit and it is there to fulfill official formalities rather than being participatory
in nature. The species of plants selected for planting, fencing, rotational grazing system
for Bargur cattle / buffalo were never discussed with us. Now because of this sudden
development we had to lose our cattle, livelihoods and many of our family members /
youth are going to nearby cities like Tirupur, Coimbatore and, Erode to be engaged in
unskilled labour market. Now we are unable to pass on the resources and knowledge to
our younger generation as keeping animals of traditional breed is not at all recognized by
the Government.
Our exclusion from forest areas is changing the ecosystem and leading to encroachment
of alien species Lantana camara which spreads to all parts of forests in an alarming
scale. The reduction in grazing is resulting in an excess of grass and foliage that is
leading to an increase in the prevalence and severity of forest fires.
Our future
Younger generation is not interested in our agricultural and animal husbandry activities
because of hardships associated with the lack of grazing but at the same time frustrated
with city life as they have to work as unskilled labourers in mills / factories. We are
caught in a no man’s land of being unable to carry on our traditional livestock keeping
and unwilling to suffer the indignities of life as unskilled labourers.
Due to lack of grazing land many herders are leasing out their herds to bordering
Karnataka state where the local state government is somewhat liberal in allowing such
pastoralism. Therefore the bordering villages such as Soolakkaombai, Minna, Erambadi,
Kachannur and Koppa are keeping specimens of Bargur breed of cattle by sustaining
their herds.
We require grazing rights, right to eradicate the alien species Lantana through
Government schemes implemented through National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(NREGA) which also assures 100 days employment for rural poor in a year by
employing in constructive work.
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