Protected Area Network in Orissa - Vasundhara

asked for a copy of final notification of the sanctuary to the forest department butfailed to get the same. The revenue department had received around 197 applicationsfor homestead land and 63 applications for settlement of agricultural land from fourvillages namely Rupiam, Katingpani, Gatibeda and Deosil”. As said by theCollector, Mr Bishnupad Sethi the villages, which are being recognized asencroached villages by the Wildlife authority, has been in existence sincecenturies and proposals for settlement is pending before the Board ofRevenue. Most of these villages have substantial human population andalmost 90% of them (more than age of 18) are included in the voters list. “Howcan their rights be denied and the settlements be considered as illegalencroachments?”Till date, the issue has not been resolved but recently in a local daily therewas news about the area saying that eviction notice has been served to thesevillages as per the Supreme courts’ order.• Restrictions Over Collection and Selling of Forest Products SeverelyAffecting the Lives & Livelihood of around 6000 Families:There are 62 villages inside the sanctuary. The total population is around22000 as per the 1991 census. Majority of population belongs to ScheduledTribe (around 87%) and comprises of Gond, Bhunjia and Paharia tribes.Though the Paharias are not officially considered as Scheduled Tribe inOrissa but, they have been included in the list of Scheduled Tribe in theneighboring Chattisgarh state.For these people NTFPs like Mahul, Kenduleaves, Char, Amala, Harida, Bahada, Sal leaves etc. provided significantincome. On an average NTFPs ensured 6-7 months of livelihood security tothese families. Abundance of varieties of NTFP and their proper processing atthe household level had helped to grow a traditionally well developedmarket over the years in some of the important villages like Kermeli,Bharuamunda, etc. Traders from far off places frequented the place to collectNTFPs from the doorsteps of people and bartered them with paddy and otherfood grains. The volume of trading can be gauged from the fact that traders99