Elephants force tribal woman to live atop banyan tree in Periyapatna !

Periyapatna: While governments run by various political parties boast about several schemes they have launched for the welfare of tribal population and members of backward communities, here is a classic example in Periyapatna where it shows that many government schemes have just remained on paper, without reaching the deserving population.

The story we are narrating here is that of a woman who is forced to live atop a banyan tree as her hut has been ravaged by wild elephants. She has been living like a tree animal since months and her case proves that governments may come and governments may go but nothing changes on ground despite tall claims by elected representatives.

The woman is Latha, wife of late Ganesh of Karadibokke Tribal Hamlet on the border of Doddaharave Reserve Forest in Periyapatna, the Assembly constituency represented by Congress MLA K. Venkatesh, who is the Chairman of Bengaluru Development Authority. And Periyapatna falls in Chief Minister Siddharamaiah’s home district of Mysuru.

Latha hails from Jenukuruba tribal community and there are over 22 Jenukuruba tribal families living at Karadibokke. The tribals are living there since the last 65 years and they depend on the meagre food facilities provided by the government. Most of the time, they depend on forest roots and edible forest produce for their living. Some of them visit other nearby villages in search of daily wage work.
Latha’s husband Ganesh died four years back owing to illness and she has two children Amulya and Vinu who are studying at the Abbalathi Tribal Ashrama School.

While Amulya is studying in fifth standard, Vinu is studying in the third standard.

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