“I get rice free from the government of Karnataka under the Annabhagya scheme. But, to carry it home, I need to spend ₹600 on an autorickshaw,” says Sunitha, a resident of Bhalekadi, a village in Kere gram panchayat of Sringeri taluk in Chikkamagaluru district. This statement of Sunitha, who is from a tribal community (Gowdlu/Malekudiya), sums up the hardship faced every day by residents of Bhalekadi, which is surrounded by the Kudremukh National Park.

Residents of Bhalekadi village live on the boundaries of Kudremukh National Park in Karnataka. As the village is interspersed with a national park, which is a protected area, the government hardly takes up any development work in the village

Residents of Bhalekadi village live on the boundaries of Kudremukh National Park in Karnataka. As the village is interspersed with a national park, which is a protected area, the government hardly takes up any development work in the village
| Photo Credit:
Sathish .G.T

Lack of basic amenities, coupled with diseases bringing down yield in arecanut farms, have prompted the villagers to move out of the region where they have lived for generations. As the village is interspersed with the national park, the government hardly takes up any development work in the village.

“If someone falls sick and needs urgent emergency healthcare, it takes hours to reach the nearest hospital in Sringeri, about 26 km from our village,” explained Rangappa. A couple of months ago his wife, Sunitha, developed chest pain. It took him more than an hour just to arrange for an autorickshaw to take her to the hospital. Later, she was moved to Manipal in neighbouring Udupi district for better treatment.

Bhalekadi is home to about 45 families. They have built houses in revenue land and their own farmland, where they have been cultivating arecanut. In recent years, yellow-leaf disease and leaf-spot diseases has decreased the yield substantially.  

Bhalekadi is home to about 45 families. They have built houses in revenue land and their own farmland, where they have been cultivating arecanut. In recent years, yellow-leaf disease and leaf-spot diseases has decreased the yield substantially.  
| Photo Credit:
Sathish G.T.

Bhalekadi is home to about 45 families. They have built houses in revenue land and their own farmland, where they have been cultivating arecanut. In recent years, yellow-leaf disease and leaf-spot diseases has decreased the yield substantially.

Rehabilitation demand

The vanishing areca farms have prompted villagers to urge the State and Central governments to rehabilitate them with a package. For the past few years, they had been contemplating moving out, citing the lack of roads, public transport and other facilities. Valuation of their assets was also conducted in 2021-22. However, the files have not moved further since then.

According to Forest Department officials, around 1,382 families live on the boundary of the national park. Among them, 653 have volunteered to move out of the area. They want a decent package to rebuild their lives in a new place. When two people died of an elephant attack in October, 2025, the government assured the residents of honouring their requests for rehabilitation at the earliest.

Prabhakar, who lives at Huligarbailu locality in Bhalekadi village, said that his farmland and house had been evaluated by the Forest Department. “We have been waiting for the government to consider our demand and release the package,” he said.

Prabhakar, belonging to the Gowdlu community, and his close relatives – altogether 12 families – have resolved to live together even after they are relocated.

“We will purchase land at one place by using the package money, and will stay together,” said Bhaskar, also a resident of Kodige.

Plummeting yield

Even the families that chose to stay in the village are now willing to move because of the diseases affecting arecanut farms.

Anthony, who was a Class 1 contractor of the Public Works Department, purchased 20 acres of land in 1991 and cultivated arecanut at Umbalakere village. “Once I used to get a yield of 100 quintals. Now, it has come down to a meagre four quintals. I am also ready to move out as looking after the arecanut plantation is not profitable,” he said.

Village of single women

Vaddina Karke, a locality in Bhalekadi village, has seven families, and five of them are led by single women.

Vanajakshi, Revathi, Asha, Vedavathi and Rathnamma lost their husbands for various reasons in the last few years. Facing the difficulties that life amidst thick forests constantly throws up, the women are taking care of their children and the farmland. They too have expressed a desire to move out of the area. They have appealed to the government of Karnataka to assess their properties, and offer fair compensation.

Published – February 16, 2026 11:14 am IST


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