Petition submitted to CM for protection of vulnerable tribal groups in Western Ghats region

The Karnataka Adivasi Hakkugala Samanvaya Samiti on Saturday submitted a petition to the Chief Minister to provide basic resources to protect the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) of Koraga and Hasalaru in the Western Ghats region of the State.

The Koragas are predominantly in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts while Hasalaru are in Hassan, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, and Kodagu districts. The petition stated that the Koraga population, which was 12,000 in 2011 census, has come down to 8,000. “It is necessary for the government to study the Koraga community which is at the brink of extinction and take steps to protect the community,” the petition says.

The Samiti also highlighted that there has been an increase in the number of Koragas who are facing serious health conditions in the backdrop of the government not releasing grants for the Koraga Health Budget in the last two years. The members demanded the restoration of these health grants for the Community.

Meanwhile, the Halasaru community has asked for expansion of the free nutrition programme to the members of the community living in Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru, provision of housing facilites, hakku patra (document of rights) for tribes who live in forest areas, and setting up welfare programmes for those who work in coffee estates and health and livelihood security for those who work in areca nut farms.

The petition also asked for organising ‘Adivasi Adalats’ (tribal courts) in every district to discuss and solve the problems faced by the tribal people.

Earlier in the day, a national seminar on ‘Empowerment of Tribal and Nomadic Communities: Possibilities and Challenges’ was organised by the Samiti in collaboration with Center for Adivasi Research and Development (CARD), New Delhi. The inaugural speech was delivered by writer and film maker Baraguru Ramachandrappa.

“It is crucial to recognise the struggles faced by our tribal and nomadic communities. With over 700 registered Adivasi communities under scheduled tribes, we must acknowledge the diversity among castes in both upper and lower classes,” Mr. Ramachandrappa said.