Bengaluru: Karnataka has begun verifying beneficiaries for its first housing scheme for 13 forest-based tribes. Officials say district-wise beneficiary lists are being screened, and documentation is underway to ensure the rollout remains on schedule. Randeep D, secretary, department of tribal welfare, said the scheme is modelled on the Union govt’s particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) housing programme but extends support to non-PVTG forest tribal people for the first time. Under the scheme, the state will provide financial assistance to families who own land. “We will provide Rs 5 lakh per house for those with sites. Over a period of three years, we intend to cover 5,500 beneficiaries,” Randeep said, adding that a govt order has been issued for the programme. The housing department will handle disbursal, and funds will be transferred directly to it once verification is completed. On beneficiary identification, he said: “We have a district-wise beneficiary list, and verification will spread across three years. We expect the first tranche release by the end of Dec.” Yogesh T, director, department of tribal welfare, said the initiative is being funded through dedicated tribal development allocations. “Special funds for forest-based tribes amount to Rs 200 crore, and we are largely utilising this for housing,” he said. Demand assessment has been completed, and districts have submitted lists of more than 8,000 families who do not have houses but possess sites. These applicants are being considered for the first phase. For those without land, the govt is working on site allotment. “The CM had earlier instructed identification of govt land to distribute sites, and this is being done at the DC level,” Yogesh said. “Forest Rights Act titles are one option for those living in forests. Another option is for the govt to purchase land at prescribed rates and allot it to landless tribal families.” Dr Prashanth N Srinivas, director, Institute of Public Health (IPH), described the initiative as a crucial step for tribes outside the designated PVTG list. He said Karnataka has been slow in notifying forest-dependent tribes and highlighted their vulnerability. He noted that states like Kerala have progressed significantly in tribal housing, adding that Karnataka’s move is important because it covers all forest-based tribes and not just PVTGs.
