{
  "id": 70140,
  "title": "Trekking policy gives livelihood push for tribals",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/trekking-policy-gives-livelihood-push-for-tribals",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-03T03:19:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/trekking-policy-gives-livelihood-push-for-tribals-101785698443748.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Malekudiya people of Karnataka’s Western Ghats have long possessed extensive knowledge of the forest, its medicinal plants, and wildlife. However, this traditional expertise did not typically result in economic security for the community. Thanks to a new trekking policy introduced by Karnataka’s forest department, many Malekudiya members have become certified nature guides, earning steady incomes while sharing their profound understanding of the landscape with visitors. Over 60 Malekudiya tribe members have been certified to guide trekkers on the Nethravathi Peak trail, while additional guides work on other popular routes such as Kudremukh, Gangadikal, and Kurinjal. More than 350 local residents across Karkala, Belthangady, Sringeri, and surrounding villages have found employment as certified trek guides since April 2026.\n\nUnder the policy, the forest department now requires certified guides on all approved trekking routes, with a minimum of one guide for every ten trekkers. Daily visitor numbers are capped at 300 and must be booked exclusively through the department’s online portal. For Manjunath Malekudiya, 50, from Malavanthige village in Belthangady taluk, this change has transformed both his livelihood and how he experiences the forest. He once walked the Nethravathi Peak trail as part of his daily life but now introduces trekkers to the Western Ghats using the Malekudiya language, sharing stories, traditions, and insights about the flora and fauna around him.\n\nManjunath started as a guide three years ago with no formal training, earning about ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 per month during the trek season. During the off-season, he works on his agricultural land. Ashok Malekudiya, 24, from Elaneeru village, is among the few in his community who have completed a bachelor’s degree but chose to stay and work as a nature guide. He earns the same monthly income as Manjunath and feels this is a more secure job than agricultural work. Younger members of the community, like Nithin Malekudiya, who left school after SSLC, now view guiding as a more stable livelihood than traditional agricultural labor.\n\nThe guides’ extensive knowledge of the forest is their greatest asset. They possess detailed information about the terrain, wildlife, and medicinal plants, which they share with visitors. V Sarmishta of the Belthangady Wildlife Range reported that there are about 115 certified guides in the Nethravathi Peak jurisdiction, including 60 from the Malekudiya community. Each guide earns at least ₹12,000 per month, with additional tips from trekkers. The Nethravathi Peak trail remains open from June to January or February, requiring around 30 to 35 guides daily. The policy has given the community a new, more stable source of income while preserving traditional knowledge and offering visitors an authentic, local experience.",
  "summary": "For generations, the Malekudiya people of Karnataka’s Western Ghats knew every bend in the forest-trails, every medicinal plant and every bird call",
  "key_points": [
    "Malekudiya people gain economic security through trekking policy.",
    "Over 60 Malekudiya certified as nature guides for Nethravathi Peak trail.",
    "Guides earn ₹12,000+ monthly, preserving traditional knowledge."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}