T.K. Rajesh, a senior journalist with *The Hindu* in Karnataka, has been awarded the Statesman Award for Rural Reporting for 2023. The award recognizes his impactful reporting on the plight of Adivasi communities in the Biligiriranga Hills of Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka.
Rajesh’s winning series of articles detailed the challenges faced by the Soliga Adivasis, particularly concerning their traditional rights and access to forest resources following the declaration of Biligiriranga Temple Tiger Reserve in 2010. He highlighted how the forest reserve status negatively impacted their livelihoods, traditional farming practices, and access to non-timber forest produce crucial for their sustenance.
His reporting focused on the discrepancies between the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006, intended to protect the rights of tribal communities, and its actual implementation on the ground. Rajesh documented how the Soliga community struggled to obtain individual and community forest rights titles, hindering their ability to sustainably manage and benefit from the forest.
The articles also shed light on the community’s efforts to assert their rights through legal battles and peaceful protests, including their successful fight in the Supreme Court to protect their traditional hunting practices within the tiger reserve. The court acknowledged their rights under the FRA and allowed regulated hunting for cultural and livelihood purposes.
Rajesh’s work brought national attention to the issues faced by the Soliga community and prompted discussions on the effective implementation of the FRA. The award committee praised his in-depth reporting, sensitivity towards the community, and commitment to highlighting marginalized voices. He previously won the Chamundeshwari Award for Journalism in 2018 for his reporting on farmer suicides in Karnataka. The Statesman Award includes a cash prize of ₹1 lakh and a citation.
