No road, school or hospital in this Karnataka village deep inside a wildlife sanctuary

The settlement lies deep within the boundaries of a protected wildlife sanctuary, where strict conservation rules limit construction and road development. As a result, the village is cut off from the nearest paved road, making travel difficult even for basic supplies. The absence of a school forces children to walk several kilometers each day to reach the nearest government institution, while the lack of a health centre means that any medical emergency requires a lengthy journey to the closest town, often on foot or by irregular transport.

The population is predominantly made up of families from the Adi Karnataka community, a Scheduled Caste that has historically faced social and economic marginalisation. Because of the isolation, many parents cannot afford to send their children to private schools, and the limited public options are far away. To continue their studies, children are placed in government-run hostels or stay with relatives in other districts, which disrupts family life and adds financial strain. The community also lacks clean drinking water facilities, further compounding daily hardships.

For readers across India, the situation highlights the tension between environmental protection and the rights of marginalized groups to basic services. While sanctuaries preserve biodiversity, the lack of essential infrastructure raises questions about equitable development and the implementation of government schemes aimed at Scheduled Castes. The case underscores the need for policy makers to balance ecological goals with the provision of roads, schools and health care, ensuring that remote communities are not left behind in the nation’s growth story.