Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy directed the officials to expedite the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) in the district.

Mr. Reddy was chairing a review meeting pertaining here on Thursday. With respect to the PM-JANMAN, the officials were instructed to ensure power connections to 18 tribal hamlets under the scheme.

The PM-JANMAN aims to provide saturation coverage of government schemes among the particularly vulnerable tribal groups and will provide facilities at their doorsteps. Out of 18 hamlets, 14 are in H.D. Kote and four are in Periyapatana taluks.

The Health Department officials were directed to launch mobile medical units while officials from the Education Department were told to ensure the completion of hostels that have been sanctioned and approved under the scheme. Completion of road, provision of drinking water, etc. were to be completed in a time-bound manner, said Mr. Reddy.

The PM-JANMAN entails 11 interventions by nine departments and covers the Jenu Kuruba community covered under the scheme. There are 33,000 Jenu Kurubas in the district of which a majority of them live in H.D. Kote, Hunsur, and Periyapatana, while there are four hamlets in Nanjangud taluks.

Mr. Reddy also reviewed the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, commonly known as the Forest Rights Act or FRA. It recognises the rights of the forest-dwelling communities including their rights over minor forest produce, and the law was introduced to undo the historical injustice to which they were subjected over centuries.

The Deputy Commissioner was informed that 644 applications were pending in the district while a review of applications that were rejected would be taken up in due course.

P.A. Seema, Director, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, Mallesh, District Tribal Welfare Officer, and revenue officials from various taluks among others attended the meeting.