Soliga

A Soliga is a member of a tribe that inhabits the Biligirirangan and associated hill ranges in Southern Karnataka, mostly in Chamarajanagar District, bordering the Erode district of Tamil Nadu (a neighbouring state). Most of them are concentrated in and around the BR Hills in Yelandur and Kollegal Taluks of Chamarajanagar. Their population numbers close to 20000, although the population in and around Biligrirangan Hills is only 2000.

They speak "Soliganudi", an ancient Kannada with a strong Tamil inflection. They used to practice shifting cultivation, but have more or less given up this practice now. They grow "Ragi" (=Finger millet, "Eleusine coracana") for subsistence, although their main source of income is harvesting and sale of Non-timber Forest Produce (NTFP) like honey, "nellikai" (gooseberry, "Emblica officinalis"), bamboo, "Paasi" (Lichen). They are increasingly being brought to the 'main-stream' with an active Government and NGO initiative. Many have been given lands closer to 'civilization' and most of the forest-dwelling population have been brought together into clusters called "Podus". Most of the forests they stay in comes under protection. The Biligirirangan Hills are a Wildlife Sanctuary under Wildlife Protection Act, 1973, the Malai Mahadeswara Hills is a Reserve Forest, and Bandipur is a National Park. There is a lot of man-animal conflict with their increasing population and needs. Recently, their rights on harvesting NTFP is being sought to be withdrawn citing conservation concerns, sparking a debate about the rights of indigenous people.