By SANTOSH MOHANTY
Apathetic attitude of forest officials has left a number of Environment Development Committees(EDCs) and Van Surakha Samities (VSS) in the Satakosia Wildlife Division in Angul district non-functional over the years.
This has left thousands of forest dwellers in Satakosia Wildlife region jobless forcing them to go to neighbouring states in search of employment. But, the coronavirus pandemic has forced them to come back to their villages and stay unfed for days due to lack of income.
Some EDC and VSS members who did not wanted to be identified alleged that over Rs 1 crore fund has remained idle in banks and other financial institutions since 2020. The forest officials, they alleged, are resorting to the subterfuge that due to the deadly coronavirus, the department has withheld the work in EDCs and VSS.
The members said the forest department stopped bamboo cleaning and cutting work in Satakosia wildlife forest region. They went further and stopped kendu leaf collection putting a break on the income source of most to the forest dwellers. Then comes a ban of pisciculture and collection of minor forest produces (MFPs).
Environmentalists and members of community based organizations working in Satakosia region alleged that the forest wing has systematically destroyed the livelihood of forest dwellers and are responsible for their mass exodus from the region due to lack of employment opportunities.
The Assistant Conservator of Forest S Behera said lack of grant has forced the closure to work in EDCs and VSSs. He said the situation will improve only after flow of grant. He, however, brushed aside the allegation as false and frivolous that the forest officials are knowingly hampering the livelihood aspects of the people who depend up EDC and VSS work to earn a living.
Worthwhile to mention here that the wildlife division has as many as 30 EDCs and 40 VSS in which cent per cent participation by villagers was ensured. The villagers contribute their bit by helping the forest officials for protecting precious forest resources and wildlife. Most villagers also earn their livelihood through various work undertaken by EDCs and VSS.
