Pastoral community in Bodi region threaten to boycott poll

Madurai: The pastoral village community of Karattupatti in Bodi region of Theni district announced their intention to boycott the upcoming assembly election over the recent decision to ban forest grazing.The villagers said that the ban on forest grazing in Theni district has severely affected the traditional livelihoods of pastoral communities. "Our way of life, which has sustained us for generations, has been completely ruined," said Kannam M, one of the villagers.He said, "Grazing is not merely an occupation but the foundation of the culture, knowledge systems and nature-based way of life of pastoral communities", adding that the ban on forest grazing amounted to a denial of their fundamental right to livelihood.In protest, the people of Karattupatti village have issued notices to boycott the election, saying this should be seen as a serious warning sign demanding immediate attention from the govt and district administration.The villagers put forward a set of demands to the govt of Tamil Nadu and the district collector of Theni, demanding that grazing rights must be immediately granted under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and the ban on forest grazing, which deprives pastoral communities of their rights, must be lifted immediately. The traditional livelihood and cultural rights of pastoral communities must be legally protected, and a sustainable solution must be evolved through dialogue with the affected village communities. The villagers also demanded that a waste dumping site near the village be removed.District officials met the villagers and assured them that the waste dumping spot would be cleared and are in talks with the pastoral community regarding the forest grazing ban.