Developing Our Villages

Category

In 2001, when the census was conducted, **percentage of Indian population resided in the villages as
compared to **percentage of their counterparts in cities. This time, during the census 2011, the report
will surely indicate more number of people living in cities. Migration into cities is a driver in this gradual
change. It is believed that the major cause for this is the lack of basic facilities such as roads, electricity,
drinking water, healthcare etc. This condition stems from the fact that the Government is lacking in its
resolve when it comes to granting money for the development of villages by concentrating on cities.
Now, an article written by P.Lankesh (You can read about him here or here), a stalwart of Kannada
Journalism, written way back in August 1993,I believe, offers a ray of hope. Here is a translation of that
article, which I believe acts just a mirror to reflect his thought of this issue. This article’s sole purpose is
to give a broader audience to this article written in Kannada, printed on August 29, 1993, in Lankesh
Patrike, a Kannada Weekly.

Teak as a Resource
A saying: Muluguvava Hullukaddi Hididanthe (What Is the use if a drowning man takes the help of a
grass stick) has deeper inner meaning .Poet Wordsworth, when he was young, was an introvert. At
times, he could not come in sense with the world. As he lost himself in his thoughts, he started to
encounter a feeling of uneasiness along with dilemma and fear. To come out of it, he began to touch
and to observe keenly the things around him. Trees, birds, and even grass evoked a greater response
from him. That sums up how the young Wordsworth turned into a poet; From Daffodils to Lucy, to
Michael, his heart went out for Nature. Communion took place when his inner feelings matched that of
the outer world. For a person who travels the outer space when lost in deep thought-time sense, object
size, presence of values, calculation, helps a lot. When everything around seems confusing, calculator
reminds exactness, stillness.

Recently I told an acquaintance:”Look at this advertisement. It tells you that if you invest a thousand
Indian Rupees to purchase a seedling of Teak, then at the end of twenty years you can reap a lakh
rupee.” “How is it possible? That’s a big fat lie” was his response with a grin on his face.”No its not”, I
said continuing; “You are escaping by telling that! I can clarify you.” Since he agreed, I spoke at length
about the matter. However, I prefer giving a brief summary here and then l arriving at the main issue.

In this calculation, I have considered twenty years of time, inflation, land, stock transactions as well as
the increase in the price of Teak .As a matter of fact, an acre of land has a square feet of 43560; in this
piece of land, you can plant 1742 seedlings considering a dimension of 5*5 for each sapling. Hence, the
owner receives 17.42 lakhs at the end. This amount when invested in a unit trust can return a profit of
25%.Continuing, this amount doubles for every two and half years. Now take into account inflation; the
prices have risen six times than when it was twenty years ago. An example can clear the air. A site that
sold for 50,000 now goes for 300,000. Similarly, twenty years ago the Teak, which was costing 100Rs, is
now worth 1000Rs. Therefore, having considered all the above estimation, if you invest a thousand
rupees in buying a Teak sapling, you can be sure of getting 250,000 at the end of twenty years. The
psychology involved in this calculation is interesting. The veil of environment preservation hides the
ingenious calculation involved in the process, which only a wise man can recognize.
One thing that fascinates in this whole stuff is Teak. Consequently, I shall be explaining the social,
economic facets of this tree. So do I mention about the corrupted Government involved with this tree. I
have seen Teak in places such as Bandipur forests, foothills of Malemadeshwara, between Sagar and
Shivamogga, between Shivamogga and Thirthahalli, and in Dandeli. These tree plantations, which are
miles long, belonging to Government, are at least 40 years old. Some are grown from the past 10 or 15
years. Neither you nor I have seen an entry in the Budget speaking of ‘revenue earned from forest’.
Alternatively, for that matter, not even ‘Revenue earned from Teak’. When an ordinary person looking
at an ad, earns 200,000Rs investing 1000Rs then, what about the Government and the revenue? If so,
where has all the money gone? Answer: Forest officials, Legislators, Contractors and forest thieves have
had it all.

I want to be press this thing a bit further. Just consider this-In Finland, 80% of the land is occupied by the
forests; and the people have been living in harmony with the forests. Although the trees of this country
are used for paper and furniture, forest cover remains at 80%.Reason: The amount of trees felled is
grown again. Gandhiji insisted that at no point of time a country should depend on the revenues earned
from taxes imposed on arrack and alcohol. Once upon a time, the revenue from the land was the main
source of income for the Government. As of now, the revenue from land is in shambles, which has not
witnessed any improvement. Consequently, the Government has to depend on both commercial tax and
excise tax. Vehicle taxes, rent, licenses, and electricity-these are the areas from which the revenue has
exhausted already. So, consider the below calculation.

I desire not to include exact area of the plantations. Governments and Forest Officials are least
concerned to divulge the details of the exact area under cover. Hence, I wish to give a sketch of a small
plantation, which is spread over 50sq.km, which covers 12,500 acres of land. In this portion of land, we
plant 1,742 samplings per acre, which gives about 21,775,000 plants. Assume that after forty years, each
year 1/40th of the area is cut down and replanted. Therefore, for every year after, 5 44,375 trees are
used for Government use. Can you guess the income if this becomes a reality? Imagining a meager
amount of one lakh per tree, the Government’s hands become full with 81,656,250,000 Indian rupees.
Karnataka’s present budget hovers around 4000 crores (in 1993). Presuming that each forest area’s tree
is worth 75,000Rs brings the conclusion that the Government can earn 4000 crores from this Teak.
Remember, we are talking an area, which is spanning 7*7 km.

Whisky, Arrack fills 1000 crore of rupees and commercial tax brings in 2000 crores to the Government
coffin. In such a situation, the revenue forests get in will surely bolster the treasury earnings.
Nevertheless, that is nowhere in sight. Karnataka has lot more plantations than 50sq.km discussed
above in my opinion. The trees, which have crossed twenty-five years of age, are in hundreds.
Nevertheless, there are not many whose preserve the precious resources by providing essential details
and caring for it. Granite stones, Sandalwood trees are lost in the vicious cycle of complacency. The
question of whether the Government will manage the Granite business or should the private companies
be called in is still undecided. . In case if the Granite business is given to private companies and stringent
tax collection mechanism are adopted-even then the earnings will be plenty.

Let me come back to Teak. When Nilgiri tree and Silver Oak tree, which is used for polyfibre clothes
fetches 600Rs, Teak fetches a 1000Rs, which makes it a valuable social commodity. Our villages have
been battered. No public work is going on. Gram Panchayats are barehanded as there is production or
industries in the vicinity. State Government sanctions 10-12 lakh for every panchayat. For this reason,
each village gets hardly anything more than three lakhs or so. Cowsheds have disappeared; public places
have vanished. Village heads are concerned about their villages. In 10 acres of public land, Teak can be
grown. In the life of a village, 10 acres of land and forty years of time is a zilch. If this is protected for
twenty-five years looking after 17,420 plants then, thereafter for every year 4% of the trees (i.e.696
trees) is chopped down and sold out, six and half crores will be added to the village treasury. In this
amount, forget about roads- bridges, even education, festivals, local sports can be arranged without a
bit of money from the Government. If needed, the Forest Department can be of some help.

Teak is a huge challenge. When the present humans are lost in the worldly pleasures, twenty or forty or
eighty years is a long time to wait for the fruit to ripe in this unpredictable world. Have a look at this
figure: A single coconut tree can give 65000Rs in its entire lifetime. However, during the same time, Teak
earns a mighty 500,000Rs. It makes this a worthy idea. It is traditional to save for one’s own children,
family. A perfect planning would constitute in believing Teak .Teak does not need the care the coconut
calls for; diseases affecting the tree are less. If the Government is serious and has a concern for trees, it
should abolish all the existing laws pertaining to Teak. It should inspire individuals, villages to grow Teak.
It does not if they cut the trees after 20 years or they cut 70% of the trees grown; new ones should be
planted in place of existing ones.

I am not penning down about a family Teak promotion. These thoughts entered my mind after going
through that advertisement; after reading about Teak; because of the words uttered by Gandhiji on the
taxes earned through alcohol. Everywhere when corrupted people are misleading, gulping the forest this
small article can serve as ‘hullu kaddi’ (grass stick). Wordsworth saved himself observing nature when he
was turning into an introvert. Nonetheless, when a land is sinking down because of negligence and
cruelty, no grass stick can save it from falling into an abyss.

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-----------------------------------------------------Let’s think that the Government was a fool until the article
appeared. At least after reading this article they should have been wise enough to implement this
marvelous idea. If the idea were implemented then, as of today, 17 years would have passed with only
eight more years to protect those trees. Taking note of important ideas is something Indian’s do not like
to do. Had it been so, India would be a super power by now. It is high time they pay heed to this article.