Women staff worried as forest wing gears up for Haritha Haram in podu lands

Adilabad: Women employees in the forest department working in the field face a threat to their lives while the department gears up to plant trees under Haritha Haram on disputed podu lands. These lands have for long been cultivated by tribals and non-tribals under Kagaznagar forest division in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district.

There is unrest among the cultivators as the state government has not issued pattas to podu lands.

Because of the unrest, women employees said they felt insecure and feared the worst in the ensuing monsoon.

There are allegations that senior officers were pushing women employees to the field whenever villagers staged a protest against plantations on podu or disputed lands. It is equally traumatic for women working in Kadamba forest areas under Kagaznagar division. They are under tremendous pressure from political leaders, who are opposed to tree plantations on podu lands.

It may be noted that the strength of women employees, including beat officers and watchers, has increased dramatically in recent years.  Many women have brought to the notice of their higher-ups about the dangers they have to face when planting trees in podu lands as part of Haritha Haram programme.

A local forest beat officer (FBO) Sirisha, who was pregnant, was attacked with a stick in Utpalli village in Kagaznagar mandal. The villagers are upset as they were not allowed into the forest for collecting firewood and cattle grazing.

It is learnt that forest officials had planned to relocate 22 villagers falling in the tiger corridor at Kagaznagar forest. Reportedly, some local political leaders are supporting podu cultivators with some of them instigating farmers to go against field-level forest staff.

A forest beat officer, on condition of anonymity, working in Kadamba, said they feel insecure while discharging their duties. She hoped the government would ensure their safety during tree plantations in podu lands.