Ockhi Cyclone Dec-2017 Report English

Panchayat Staff / NGOs, SHGs to identify them and ensure that they are not left
behind in the provision of relief and fresh input for cultivation.
7.4 The government should write off all the loans including the interest of the farmers
who have been affected due to Cyclone Ockhi.
7.2 Vulnerable Kaani Tribes: The Kaani tribes face severe agricultural loss and
most of their houses have been either partially damaged or entirely destroyed. The
PI team observed that despite having an Aadhaar card, the tribal group has no
access to any of the welfare schemes, including the food distribution system. The
Kaanis have no access to clean drinking water and toilets too. It is observed that the
Prime Minister’s famed Swatch Bharat Mission has not reached the Kaani
settlements. It is therefore important that the district administration provides the
Kaani people schools, toilets, drinking water, which are their basic needs and which
need to be fulfilled.
1. The constant fear of criminalisation by forest officials has further challenged the
position of the Kaani people. Cyclone Ockhi has damaged their vulnerable
houses which urgently needs to be repaired with concrete RCC roofs for multihazard
resilience.
2. They have not received any compensation so far for their damaged crops, i.e.
rubber, banana, coconut, etc. and hence this needs to be done urgently through
the details arising out of the micro-assessment proposed earlier.
3. The Kaani tribals face constant threat of eviction from the forest officials who
misuse the FRA Act and Wildlife Acts. Allegedly wild boars and poisonous
snakes are unleashed on them to promote eviction. The Kaani people strongly
and rightly believe that they belong to this land and they cannot be relocated
elsewhere. This has to be recognised by the district administration and specially
the officials of the forest department.
4. The livelihood of the Kaani people is tough as they are having abundant natural
resources but poor economic returns due to debt and other vicious cycle of
poverty. The representation of the tribe in governance is very minimal and this
needs to be improved.
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