Forty-three-year-old Chandrashekar Gowda went to live in the forests after the Nelluru Kemraje Co-operative Society in Dakshin Kannada auctioned his 2.29 acre farm land in 2002. He had failed to repay his loan of Rs 50,400 because of which the co-operative confiscated and sold his land.
Post the auction, Gowda stayed with his sister for a while but later managed to buy a second-hand Fiat car which became his home. He parked the car at a clearing on the edge of the forests of Bedrupane in Arantodu near Sullia where he has been living all these years.
For 14 years now, he has been walking 21 km to Sullia once every week to sell the baskets he weaves at Rs 40 per piece.
Rehabilitating Gowda
Having learnt about Gowda recently, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner AB Ibrahim has initiated steps for his rehabilitation. On 28 January, Ibrahim called Gowda to Mangaluru to hear his version of the story. Representatives of the Nelluru Kemraje Co-operative Society, social activist Hilda Rayappan, psychiatrist Ravish Thunga and district superintendent of police SD Sharanappa also attended the meeting.
Gowda explained that he had taken a short-term loan and two crop loans amounting to Rs 50,400 from the society in 1999. The society initiated proceedings against him in 2002 as he failed to repay on time. Later, it auctioned the land for Rs 1.2 lakh in October 2002. After deducting the capital and interest that was due, the balance amount Rs 11,000 is with the society, which Gowda has not claimed so far.
Gowda was evicted from the land with the help of the police and his house was demolished.
Gowda could have gone for legal or judicial recourse in the case and could have got a better solution. We are also getting him psychiatric treatment and counselling.AB Ibrahim, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner
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