Human -Wildlife Conflict and Jamma Land issue discussed.
Chief Minister’s Legal Advisor and Virajpet Assembly Constituency MLA A.S. Ponnanna inaugurated the newly constructed Forest Department Officers’ Residence near the Koyanadu Zonal Forest Office recently.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Zonal Forest Officer’s office premises, the MLA distributed two honey boxes each to 30 farmers and sewing machines to six women. He also provided laptops and projectors to Urubail and Kudadka Government Schools to promote digital literacy.
MLA A.S. Ponnanna stated that the honey boxes were distributed to enable beneficiaries to earn a livelihood through self-reliance. He said that laptops and projectors were provided to help rural government school students access digital education, while sewing machines were given to women to support self-employment.
He explained that the programme was organised by the Forest Department under the Kodagu Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Foundation Fund as part of sustainable development initiatives aimed at encouraging forest-dwelling communities to adopt self-employment.
The MLA urged rural residents to utilise government schemes effectively and strive for financial empowerment through self-employment, which fosters responsibility and accountability. He emphasised the importance of harmony between local residents and forest officials, conservation of forests, and balanced development to ensure sustainable livelihoods.
Kodagu Circle Chief Conservator of Forests SonalVrishni stated that the Forest Department would continue to extend various facilities to forest-dependent communities and urged people to cooperate in forest conservation efforts.
Deputy Conservator of Forests Abhishek, Assistant Conservator of Forests Sendil Kumar, Zonal Forest Officer Dechamma, locals P.L. Suresh, Kadumane Purushottam, Kusumakara, Harish Niranjan, Asha, and others were present.
Later, MLA A.S. Ponnanna inspected the newly identified land for the construction of a school building near Koyanadu.Addressing the gathering, he recalled that the Koyanadu school building had collapsed due to heavy rains during the monsoon two years ago, posing safety risks. Consequently, students were shifted to the Sampaje Government School during the monsoon.
He said land has now been identified for constructing a new school building and that Rs. 40 lakh has already been sanctioned by the government, with the remaining amount to be released soon. Discussions between the District Collector and the Chief Conservator of Forests are underway, and the land will be transferred to the School Education Department.
Highlighting the educational difficulties faced by children in the Koyanadu region, the MLA assured that construction would be taken up at the earliest based on local demand.
He also mentioned that the Jammabane land amendment bill has been approved in Kodagu district, resolving long-pending issues faced by Jammabane tenants.
MLA Ponnanna further noted that several important legislations, including internal reservation within Scheduled Castes and the implementation of the Hate Speech Prohibition Act, have been enacted.
Speaking on the occasion, Gram Panchayat President Ramadevi Balachandra Kalagi expressed happiness over the initiation of the school construction, stating that students had been struggling without a proper building.
Deputy Director of the School Education Department Basava Raju, Field Education Officer Mahesh, SurajHosur, and others were present.
