Protected Area Network in Orissa - Vasundhara

AllottedAreaOrissa Orissa Orissa.124.80 hectares but 110 hectares but the 32 hectares but thethe villagers are in villagers are in villagers are inpossession of land possession of land possession of landover 72.84 hectares. over 141.05 hectares. over 55 hectares.The forest villages consist of 107 households and a total of 547 populations as perthe 2001 census. The scheduled caste & scheduled tribe constituted 13.89 and63.61 percent of the total population respectively. The major caste groups ofthese villages are Kandha, Pana, Chasa and Khetriya.Name of the Total Total PopulationArea allottedForest Village HHsSC ST Others TotalTarava 50 23 213 14 250 312 acresAsan Bahal 23 24 33 57 114 80 acresBhurkundi 34 29 102 52 183 275 acresTOTAL 107 76 348 123 547 667 acresSpecific Issues related to Forest Villages:• Non Conversion of Forest Villagesinto Revenue Villages Deprived theInhabitants from the Govt.Programmes & Schemes:“Our situation is more disastrous then theinhabitants of revenue villages. They aretaking benefits of the governmentprogrammes and schemes. They aregetting Indira Awases, old age pensions,Conversion of Forest Villages intoRevenue VillagesThe Angul Wildlife Division hassubmitted proposal of 2 villages (out of3) near the State government forregularization of the villages. FurtherState Government has sent the proposalto the GoI. Unfortunately, in 13.11.2000and 9.2.2004 the Hon’ble Supreme Courthas passed interim orders (in I.A. No. 2in WP No. 337/1995 and I.A. No. 16) that“…….Pending further orders, nodereservation of forest/Sanctuaries/National Parks shall be effected”. So theproposal is lying with the GoI.84