Fear of free-roaming elephants keeps children away from this anganwadi in Sringeri taluk

Sumithra, an Anganwadi teacher, reaches her workplace at Bhalekadi, in Sringeri taluk of Chikkamagaluru district, riding her bike for five-kilometre from her home. She is joined by her assistant Meenakshi to take care of the centre. But for the past few weeks, only one child has been attending the centre.

“Earlier, eight children were regulars at the centre. After elephants started roaming in the area, parents stopped sending their children,” said Ms. Sumithra. The house of the lone child is close to the centre. She plays alone for sometime, eats and returns home.

Better times

The movement of wild elephants in the villages of Kerekatte gram panchayat, bordering the Kudremukh National Park, has impacted the lives of people. “I used to come to the centre by walk and bring all the children along with me. However, after the elephant attack in which two people were killed, the parents stopped sending children with me,” said the teacher.

The movement of wild elephants in the villages of Kerekatte gram panchayat, bordering the Kudremukh National Park, has impacted the lives of people.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Two persons died in an elephant attack near Kerekatte on October 31, 2025, following which local people staged protests. Later, the Forest Department captured the elephant suspected to have killed the two.

“We had witnessed the movement of elephants in our area. There were signs of their movements and damages caused to crops and public properties. However, the fatal incidents left all of us in shock and fear,” the teacher stated.

46 families

As many as 46 families of the village are spread over settlements Hulagaru Bailu, Vaddina Karke, Bhale-Kodige. They lack proper road, public transport, basic health facilities, educational facility and health infrastructure. The higher primary school at Bhalekadi was closed three year ago after the number of students enrolled dropped. A majority of the families send their students to residential schools from the class 1.

The residents reach the nearest highway at Umbalakere by walk to catch a bus to other places. They have to travel to Nemmaru, about 13 km, to reach the nearest fair price shop. Following the elephant attack, the residents are worried about their safety.

As many as 46 families in the area lack proper road, public transport, basic health facilities, educational facility and health infrastructure. 
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

In the recent days, the residents’ dependence on autorickshaw has increased due to the fear of wild animals, adding to their expenses. “Autorickshaw drivers charge ₹600 for one-way journey to Sringeri, the taluk centre. If we want to visit the town to purchase essential items, we have to spend ₹1,200,” said Asha, a resident of Vaddina-Karke.

A majority of the residents have made up their minds to move out of the area, giving up their ancestral properties, including farmlands, if they get a decent compensation for rehabilitation.