Key milestones
1981
CORD takes birth
1984
CORD begins working with the Adivasi forest dwellers
1984
First Budakattu Krushikara Sangha (BKS), the first tribal association of its kind is established, at Handigudda Kaval, a tribal settlement on the fringe of forests, in Periyapatna Taluk of Mysore district. It was the first Community based organisations (CBO) for tribal peoples initiated and strengthened in all the tribal settlements of the Western Ghat districts of Karnataka, that later formed a strong network.
1986
The first Budakattu Krushikara Sangha (BKS) of Kodagu was established at Mhavinahalla Haadi in Aanekaadu Forests.
1988
Adivasi of the forests in and around Nagarahole resisted against forced eviction and secured a major victory in organized protest during the year. In the first show of resistance ever in the region, Adivasi of Ranigate at Periyapatna protested against the forest department attempting a forced eviction and destroyed their standing crops. The Adivasi resisted and forced the DFO abandon his vehicle, and walk 8 kms barefoot away to Koppa. The Forest department retaliated a month later, and using elephants destroyed Adivasi homes. The Adivasi protested before the office of the DFO and finally on orders of the Deputy Commissioner secured relief against any further eviction efforts, and reconstructed their houses with wood provided by the forest department.
1988
CORD ushers in fruits of development through agro-based economic development model, enabling construction of 3 check dams , 62 irrigational ponds and pump sets, along with providing 300 pairs of plough bullocks, agricultural implements, and fencing materials for cultivating about 500 hectares of Adivasi habitat in Periyapatna (Mysore district) and Somwarpet (Kodagu district). Around 800 tribal families were initiated into sustained agriculture as alternate livelihood means in their alienated situations.
1989
28 SHGs formed and strengthened among the culturally hesitant tribal groups, which now holds a fast replicable tendency.
1990 140 Deprived children are given sole support to continue their formal education at different levels.
1992
First South India conference of Adivasi – Adivasi Sangama – was organized at Manandawaadi, Wayanaad, Kerala, by CORD along with other partner NGOs and voluntary groups.
1993
Second South India conference of Adivasi – Adivasi Sangama – was organized with national and international representation, at Kushalnagar, Kodagu, by CORD along with other NGO partners.
1996
The H D Deve Gowda Government passes the Panchayat Raj Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act recognizing the Adivasi right to self-governance, and the Adivasi Gram Sabha (Village Assembly) as the sole arbitrator.
1998
Adivasi of Nagarahole launch the now famous protest against Taj Group attempting to establish a jungle resort within the protected forest area.
1999
Adivasi of Nagarahole resist efforts to stymie their protests and move the Karnataka High Court against the Forest Department and Taj Group
2000
Karnataka High Court orders Taj Group to stop construction of the Jungle Resort and leave the forests. This was first major legal battle ever won by the Adivasi of India. The petitioners who moved the court were CORD along with Nagarahole Rights Restoration Forum (a causes of Adivasi organisations), DEED (Hunsur, Mysore Dist) and Nisarga Foundation (HD Kote, Mysore Dist.)
2001
Supreme Court upholds the High Court order and rejects the appeal filed by the Taj Group. The Taj Group thereafter moved the High Court and secured a compensation of Rs.25 Crore from the Karnataka Forest Department for have executed a faulty lease agreement inside the protected area with them.
2001
CORD representative Mr. Vijayasingh Ronald David along with Adivasi leader Mr. J P Raju visited World Bank office at Washington DC on an invitation on behalf of the Adivasis, and exposed the lies spread by the forest department using the Eco Development Project funded by the World Bank as a tool to forcibly evict the Adivasi from the Nagarahole forest regions. That brought an end to that phase of forcible evictions.
2005
With these events providing the necessary momentum, Adivasi leaders moved to New Delhi to lobby for the Forest Rights Act, meeting the then Union Defence Minister late Pranab Mukherjee, and MPs late Bangarappa and Mallikarjuna Kharge.
2006
In a landmark legislation acknowledging the right to livelihood of the Adivasi, the Manmohan Singh Government passes the Forest Rights Act (FRA), accepting in the Parliament that the legislation marks the move to undo the historic injustice meted out to the Adivasi and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFD) in the country.
2008
FRA implementation commences in various project areas of CORD amidst strenuous resistance from the Forest Department and mainstream interests.
2009-10
As FRA comes into effect, CORD supports communities towards implementation, but have and continue to face challenges with implementation. CORD spreads information and creates awareness regarding FRA, helping Adivasis organise Grama Sabhas and form Forest Rights Committees at each Haadi/ Village Habitat level, even while detailing and ingraining messages on Adivasi Rights and Responsibilities under FRA.
Adivasis and other Traditional Forest Dwellers of Kodagu and Periyapatna (Mysore), helped to fill up Form A and Form B for claiming individual and community forest rights. Training workshops are conducted to help them understand how to claim their individual and community Rights over forest land, and the processes involved.
Advocacy campaigns for FRA implementation are carried out at different locations, at state and national level, including a meeting with the Union Tribal Affairs Minister.
2011
CORD establishes contact with Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFD) who are dependent on natural resources and are vested rights under FRA, which includes Dalits, Fishermen community, and Farmers. Together with the Adivasis, they come together under the banner of Community Rights Sangama in Kushalnagar to discuss common issues and strategize on how to campaign for their common issues and unite to secure their rights over Water, Jungle and Jameen (Land). Delegates of children parallelly discuss child rights issues at the Sangama.
2012
Owing to sustained advocacy by CORD, the Adivasi under the aegis of BKS, begin resisting and protesting attempts to pass off small pieces of housing land as FRA individual land rights, falsely promising that land for tilling and agriculture would be provided later. Adivasis of Kodagu en-masse reject this offer. The same year, CORD is identified to collaborate with the Union Government and operate and manage the Childline No. 1098 protecting rights of children 24/7 in Kodagu district. The Childline under the aegis of the Union Women and Child Development Ministry is facilitated via Child India Foundation.
2013-16
CORD, through BKS, focused on strengthening grassroots democracy by conducting Gram Sabhas, forming Forest Rights Committees, and aiding in the preparation of Village maps and GPS surveys for Adivasi claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA). They played a crucial role in securing essential documents for forest dwellers and assisted in submitting claim forms, despite bureaucratic challenges. Notably, CORD-BKS' efforts led to a significant court order for the compensation and rehabilitation of 3418 families, though its implementation faced resistance from the Forest Department. Concurrently, through Childline service, CORD aided in rescue of over 700 at-risk children through the Childline service between 2012 and 2016.
2017
In a major FRA victory to the sustained CORD-BKS initiative through the years, 21 Forest Rights Committees of Periyapatna (Mysore District) make 21 community rights claims and all 21 claims encompassing around 25, 000 acres of forest land, are granted by the State Government with approval of Union Government. This boosts the confidence among Adivasis all over Karnataka, including Kodagu, and give impetus to filing of claims and asserting their rights as per the FRA. Through Childline, CORD continues to rescue as many as 242 at risk children.
2018-19
The FRA implementation campaign continues, and the movement gathers momentum with the Adivasis of Kodagu securing their claims for both community rights and Individual rights in the Hadis (Adivasi Villages) where local BKS was strong. During the year CORD rescues as many as 650 at risk children through calls received on Child Line.
2020
Adivasis and OTFD could not move around due to COVID 19 restrictions. So, CORD’s activities are restricted. However, the Child line team continue attending emergency calls, and CORD gets involved in keeping track on COVID Response Watch, securing local feedback on response to COVID in the mainstream society, and creating awareness through posters & cartoons, as a part of a national initiative. During the year CORD rescues as many as 198 at risk children through calls received on Child Line.
2021
As the society opened up cautiously during post Covid, in select Hadis, training & workshops are conducted on F.R.A. & Child rights. During the year CORD rescues as many as 333 at risk children through calls received on Child Line.
2022
Starts working in 200 villages on C.F.R. rights at Ranchi (Jharkhand); selects 10 villages for organic farming, and collection, processing and marketing of Minor Forest Produce. Childline activities continued at Kodagu, with CORD rescuing as many as 319 at risk children through calls received on Child Line.
2023
CORD enrolls on Dhwani Foundation’s Nirantara Shayak Program, a modern management and implementation process initiative for NGOs and People’s Groups, backbone of which are trainings, workshops, and introduction and implementation of systems fulfilling as many as 205 criteria to make functioning of CORD, both external and internal, systematic, vibrant and transparent. Starts working on policies, Human Resources Development, Improving the Due diligences, MIS, SAT etc., as per Dhwani mandate. Childline gets merged with 112 Police department nationwide since September 2023 as per the policy decision of the Union Women and Child Welfare Department.
CORD takes birth
1984
CORD begins working with the Adivasi forest dwellers
1984
First Budakattu Krushikara Sangha (BKS), the first tribal association of its kind is established, at Handigudda Kaval, a tribal settlement on the fringe of forests, in Periyapatna Taluk of Mysore district. It was the first Community based organisations (CBO) for tribal peoples initiated and strengthened in all the tribal settlements of the Western Ghat districts of Karnataka, that later formed a strong network.
1986
The first Budakattu Krushikara Sangha (BKS) of Kodagu was established at Mhavinahalla Haadi in Aanekaadu Forests.
1988
Adivasi of the forests in and around Nagarahole resisted against forced eviction and secured a major victory in organized protest during the year. In the first show of resistance ever in the region, Adivasi of Ranigate at Periyapatna protested against the forest department attempting a forced eviction and destroyed their standing crops. The Adivasi resisted and forced the DFO abandon his vehicle, and walk 8 kms barefoot away to Koppa. The Forest department retaliated a month later, and using elephants destroyed Adivasi homes. The Adivasi protested before the office of the DFO and finally on orders of the Deputy Commissioner secured relief against any further eviction efforts, and reconstructed their houses with wood provided by the forest department.
1988
CORD ushers in fruits of development through agro-based economic development model, enabling construction of 3 check dams , 62 irrigational ponds and pump sets, along with providing 300 pairs of plough bullocks, agricultural implements, and fencing materials for cultivating about 500 hectares of Adivasi habitat in Periyapatna (Mysore district) and Somwarpet (Kodagu district). Around 800 tribal families were initiated into sustained agriculture as alternate livelihood means in their alienated situations.
1989
28 SHGs formed and strengthened among the culturally hesitant tribal groups, which now holds a fast replicable tendency.
1990 140 Deprived children are given sole support to continue their formal education at different levels.
1992
First South India conference of Adivasi – Adivasi Sangama – was organized at Manandawaadi, Wayanaad, Kerala, by CORD along with other partner NGOs and voluntary groups.
1993
Second South India conference of Adivasi – Adivasi Sangama – was organized with national and international representation, at Kushalnagar, Kodagu, by CORD along with other NGO partners.
1996
The H D Deve Gowda Government passes the Panchayat Raj Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act recognizing the Adivasi right to self-governance, and the Adivasi Gram Sabha (Village Assembly) as the sole arbitrator.
1998
Adivasi of Nagarahole launch the now famous protest against Taj Group attempting to establish a jungle resort within the protected forest area.
1999
Adivasi of Nagarahole resist efforts to stymie their protests and move the Karnataka High Court against the Forest Department and Taj Group
2000
Karnataka High Court orders Taj Group to stop construction of the Jungle Resort and leave the forests. This was first major legal battle ever won by the Adivasi of India. The petitioners who moved the court were CORD along with Nagarahole Rights Restoration Forum (a causes of Adivasi organisations), DEED (Hunsur, Mysore Dist) and Nisarga Foundation (HD Kote, Mysore Dist.)
2001
Supreme Court upholds the High Court order and rejects the appeal filed by the Taj Group. The Taj Group thereafter moved the High Court and secured a compensation of Rs.25 Crore from the Karnataka Forest Department for have executed a faulty lease agreement inside the protected area with them.
2001
CORD representative Mr. Vijayasingh Ronald David along with Adivasi leader Mr. J P Raju visited World Bank office at Washington DC on an invitation on behalf of the Adivasis, and exposed the lies spread by the forest department using the Eco Development Project funded by the World Bank as a tool to forcibly evict the Adivasi from the Nagarahole forest regions. That brought an end to that phase of forcible evictions.
2005
With these events providing the necessary momentum, Adivasi leaders moved to New Delhi to lobby for the Forest Rights Act, meeting the then Union Defence Minister late Pranab Mukherjee, and MPs late Bangarappa and Mallikarjuna Kharge.
2006
In a landmark legislation acknowledging the right to livelihood of the Adivasi, the Manmohan Singh Government passes the Forest Rights Act (FRA), accepting in the Parliament that the legislation marks the move to undo the historic injustice meted out to the Adivasi and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFD) in the country.
2008
FRA implementation commences in various project areas of CORD amidst strenuous resistance from the Forest Department and mainstream interests.
2009-10
As FRA comes into effect, CORD supports communities towards implementation, but have and continue to face challenges with implementation. CORD spreads information and creates awareness regarding FRA, helping Adivasis organise Grama Sabhas and form Forest Rights Committees at each Haadi/ Village Habitat level, even while detailing and ingraining messages on Adivasi Rights and Responsibilities under FRA.
Adivasis and other Traditional Forest Dwellers of Kodagu and Periyapatna (Mysore), helped to fill up Form A and Form B for claiming individual and community forest rights. Training workshops are conducted to help them understand how to claim their individual and community Rights over forest land, and the processes involved.
Advocacy campaigns for FRA implementation are carried out at different locations, at state and national level, including a meeting with the Union Tribal Affairs Minister.
2011
CORD establishes contact with Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFD) who are dependent on natural resources and are vested rights under FRA, which includes Dalits, Fishermen community, and Farmers. Together with the Adivasis, they come together under the banner of Community Rights Sangama in Kushalnagar to discuss common issues and strategize on how to campaign for their common issues and unite to secure their rights over Water, Jungle and Jameen (Land). Delegates of children parallelly discuss child rights issues at the Sangama.
2012
Owing to sustained advocacy by CORD, the Adivasi under the aegis of BKS, begin resisting and protesting attempts to pass off small pieces of housing land as FRA individual land rights, falsely promising that land for tilling and agriculture would be provided later. Adivasis of Kodagu en-masse reject this offer. The same year, CORD is identified to collaborate with the Union Government and operate and manage the Childline No. 1098 protecting rights of children 24/7 in Kodagu district. The Childline under the aegis of the Union Women and Child Development Ministry is facilitated via Child India Foundation.
2013-16
CORD, through BKS, focused on strengthening grassroots democracy by conducting Gram Sabhas, forming Forest Rights Committees, and aiding in the preparation of Village maps and GPS surveys for Adivasi claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA). They played a crucial role in securing essential documents for forest dwellers and assisted in submitting claim forms, despite bureaucratic challenges. Notably, CORD-BKS' efforts led to a significant court order for the compensation and rehabilitation of 3418 families, though its implementation faced resistance from the Forest Department. Concurrently, through Childline service, CORD aided in rescue of over 700 at-risk children through the Childline service between 2012 and 2016.
2017
In a major FRA victory to the sustained CORD-BKS initiative through the years, 21 Forest Rights Committees of Periyapatna (Mysore District) make 21 community rights claims and all 21 claims encompassing around 25, 000 acres of forest land, are granted by the State Government with approval of Union Government. This boosts the confidence among Adivasis all over Karnataka, including Kodagu, and give impetus to filing of claims and asserting their rights as per the FRA. Through Childline, CORD continues to rescue as many as 242 at risk children.
2018-19
The FRA implementation campaign continues, and the movement gathers momentum with the Adivasis of Kodagu securing their claims for both community rights and Individual rights in the Hadis (Adivasi Villages) where local BKS was strong. During the year CORD rescues as many as 650 at risk children through calls received on Child Line.
2020
Adivasis and OTFD could not move around due to COVID 19 restrictions. So, CORD’s activities are restricted. However, the Child line team continue attending emergency calls, and CORD gets involved in keeping track on COVID Response Watch, securing local feedback on response to COVID in the mainstream society, and creating awareness through posters & cartoons, as a part of a national initiative. During the year CORD rescues as many as 198 at risk children through calls received on Child Line.
2021
As the society opened up cautiously during post Covid, in select Hadis, training & workshops are conducted on F.R.A. & Child rights. During the year CORD rescues as many as 333 at risk children through calls received on Child Line.
2022
Starts working in 200 villages on C.F.R. rights at Ranchi (Jharkhand); selects 10 villages for organic farming, and collection, processing and marketing of Minor Forest Produce. Childline activities continued at Kodagu, with CORD rescuing as many as 319 at risk children through calls received on Child Line.
2023
CORD enrolls on Dhwani Foundation’s Nirantara Shayak Program, a modern management and implementation process initiative for NGOs and People’s Groups, backbone of which are trainings, workshops, and introduction and implementation of systems fulfilling as many as 205 criteria to make functioning of CORD, both external and internal, systematic, vibrant and transparent. Starts working on policies, Human Resources Development, Improving the Due diligences, MIS, SAT etc., as per Dhwani mandate. Childline gets merged with 112 Police department nationwide since September 2023 as per the policy decision of the Union Women and Child Welfare Department.