Speaking to press persons on Wednesday, he said Dubare elephant camp has 22 elephants. There are four mahouts and six kavadis to take care them. However, as per the government norms, one mahouts should take care of one elephant.
Dubare elephant camp requires 46 staff including mahouts and kavadis. Mahouts and kavadis resorted to protest as the government had decided to appoint mahouts and kavadis before regularising mahouts and kavadis who are already rendering their service.
Taming the elephants, caring them are the traditional art of mahouts and kavadis. We need to provide all the facilities for them. Moreover, there is a need to provide salary and food on time. To increase their economic condition, there is a need to regularise their services. Moreover, the department should provide uniforms, he added.
Requirements
There is a need to provide health care, life insurance, accident insurance, housing facilities to them.
Moreover, a proposal to provide employment to them on compassionate ground should be sent to the government.
The age limit and educational qualification should be relaxed in government selection. Government will also be urged to provide free meals three times a day for the children of mahouts and kavadis, he added.
Mallesh said government will be urged to provide a boat facility or construct hanging bridge to cross the river to reach elephant camp in Dubare.
He said government will be urged to provide employment to these kavadis and mahouts inside the forest and hostels for their children. 25 per cent of the income raised from the Dubare Jungle Lodge should be utilised for the education, health of the children of mahouts and kavadis.
Dubare has 23 elephants. This include six elephants which were captured recently. Bharath who takes part in Jamboo savari is leading a retired life at Hunasooru. The country has 17,500 elephants while Kodagu has 180 elephants, he added.
Govt okays school for tribal kids
The government has given permission to start a school for the children of tribals in one acre land in Dubare reserve forest, said DCF B B Mallesh. Speaking to presspersons on Wednesday, he said education department and district administration had sent a proposal to provide one acre forest land on contract basis to set up school. The proposal was sent to the government. However, as per Forest Protection Act-1980, to use forest land for non forest purpose, Central government’s permission was essential. The government had released fund for the construction of school building two to three years ago.