Two youth from the pada recently moved to live outside the SGNP. “They are living well there,” one youth’s mother said aloud, “Nothing worrisome. If you see the other way round, what is there in the jungle? One can live nicely outside; one’s children can get admission in a good school. One understands and learns things when one engages the outside world, no? What's left in the jungle anyways?” “Then again,” she spoke agonistically, “It's nice here too; to breathe fresh air without tension. God knows what” the forest people “are planning to do. But nothing will happen in our pada so soon.” Even if the relocation scheme goes through, “Our pada will be the last one as our names are not in any list. No one will leave without the guarantee of getting proper houses. All of us are older residents here. No one will leave easily.”
“In any case,” she continued, “those in the relocation scheme couldn't adjust to their new surroundings. They are acquainted with the jungle, no? Over here, one can wander anywhere, sit and chit-chat with everyone. How is it possible to do all this in that small room? Such small rooms! How will families with more members adjust in them? How will one even stay there? They have come back again to live here in the jungle.” The three women in conversation sat for a moment in awkward silence pondering over these questions.
