Eviction of tribals blamed on globalisation

Eviction of tribals blamed on globalisation

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, April 20, 2015:   Globalisation has put Koraga community and its culture at risk, said Mangalore University Assistant Professor Sabitha Koraga.  Speaking at a seminar on ‘Eviction of primitive tribals,’ organised jointly by Samadarshi Vedike, Mangaluru, Hosathu Patrike, Bengaluru, and University College Kannada Sangha, at Ravindra Kalabhavan in Mangaluru on April 19.

  Stressing on an urgent need to establish the cultural significance of Koraga community, she said, today, Koragas were confined to forests and had lost confidence, joining the mainstream was a nightmare for them probably due to centuries of isolation. 


Their population has seen a significant decrease over the years. Even to this day, many people belonging to Koraga community are living in absolute poverty and are not able to think beyond food and shelter, Sabitha said.  She said there was a need to acknowledge the cultural significance of Koragas. Previously, Koragas were known as Kaadigas,  literally ’ forest dwellers’.

Three dialects of Koraga language exists in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Koraga people are nature worshipers  and their deities are consecrated below trees, she said expressed a deep need to build an atmosphere for sustainable development of socially and economically backward classes like Koragas.

Samajika Arthika Sthityantara Adhyayana Samsthe, Bengaluru, department Head Manohar Yadav lamented that the development programmes meant for tribal people were poorly implemented.

During the last two years, not even 35 per cent of the funds reserved for the development of SC/ST have been utilised in the State. Moreover, the facilities meant for tribals are hi-jacked by non-tribals, to the extent that some of the parliamentarians and legislators who claim to be from tribal community, are not real tribals.

Today, 120 communities, which are not tribals by origin, including Kodavas, are attempting to get tribal status. In various parts of the world, primitive tribals are killed or evicted by force. Even in India, many are treated as criminals. There are more than 500 primitives in the nation. They have been the victims of caste system.
 
Dr Siddanagowda Patil said that the present NDA-led Central government was rooting for industrialisation, which will affect the life of tribals badly. He questioned Udupi Pejavar seer why he was not opposing the stand of the government towards Land Acquisition Ammendment Act.

Filmmaker Kesari Haravu also spoke. University College Kannada department Associate Professor Nagappa Gowda presided.  There was enthusiastic interaction at the meet.