Bengaluru, (DHNS): After several years, the tribals of Nagapura Tribal Rehabilitation Centre were all happy and participated enthusiastically in the Gajapayana at Veeranahosahalli, the entry point to the Nagarahole National Park in Hunsur on Sunday, as the government had issued them land documents.

The tribals had not supported the event whole-heartedly all these years as they were unhappy with the state government for neither issuing them land documents nor providing them with basic facilities since the two decades. Now the community has received the documents and the government has also assured them of basic facilities. It may be recalled that during the last Gajapayana, the tribals had threatened to stage a protest during the programme. But the authorities had managed to convince them.

The tribals in the region were shifted from the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve to Nagapura, almost two decades ago. But they were not fully rehabilitated after the relocation. Alleging government negligence, they had staged a series of protests and had also threatened boycotting Gajapayana in the recent past. Bojappa of the Rehabilitation Centre, said, “We are happy to take part in the event as the state government has fulfilled our long-pending demands. But still, we need basic facilities to lead a dignified life,” he said. Shiva, from the Rehabilitation Centre, said, “There is no proper road connectivity from fields to the village. MLA A H Vishwanath had assured us of fulfilling the demand. The tribal community in the region is deprived of benefits from the Agriculture and the Horticulture departments,” he added.