Madikeri: The Federation of Kodava Samajas, Balagodu, Virajpet taluk, held its Annual General Body Meeting for the year 2017-18 on June 5, 2018 at its head office in Balagodu.

The meeting was attended by about 140 members. Federation President Kallichanda Vishnu Kariappa presided.

The President said that the membership drive in three categories namely, Kodava Samaja membership, Donor Membership and Kodava Okka (Family) Membership drive is pursued vigorously in order to strengthen the Federation.

The President said the Federation had received a letter dated 25.5.2018 from some members jointly requesting the Federation in its General Body of 2017-18 to discuss the issues mentioned in the letter and take appropriate decisions or pass resolutions. Among the issues mentioned in this letter were as follows:

1. To set up a Secretariat with an able Administrator to receive complaints and petitions from the members for solution with the guidance and help from the Federation. The Secretariat will interact with various Government Departments, if necessary, and report to the General Council or the President or the Secretary. 2. Federation to take up the cause of getting the Linguistic Minority status. 3. Make efforts to get Scheduled Tribe status for Kodavas. 4. Federation to ensure that no new places of worship are constructed near important temples of Kodavas like Sri Padi Igguthappa Temple at Kakkabe, Bhagandeshwara Temple at Bhagamandala, Mruthyunjaya Temple at Badaga etc. in order to protect the sanctity of these ancient temples.
2. Federation to take up the issue of Caste Certificate to be issued to Kodavas. At present, the Tahsildar is issuing the certificate saying ‘Kodagaru’ instead of ‘Kodava.’ This is causing problems wherever Caste Certificate is required to get benefits under Government schemes. 6. Federation to discuss with the concerned Government Department to complete the remaining 600 mts. road work from Pukola, Birunani, to Virajpet via Kotiyala, which will reduce the distance to Virajpet taluk headquarters by about 28 kms for the villagers. 7. Federation to discuss with the Government to withdraw cases filed against those who participated in the agitation against the high tension power lines going across South Kodagu to Kerala.

The President told the General Body that the Governing Council had discussed these issues at a special meeting inviting the representatives of all Kodava Samajas and would soon be meeting the Deputy Commissioner to discuss the matter and find solutions.

Raising the issue of the proposed Railway line criss-crossing Kodagu district, a senior member of the Federation expressed surprise that the massive protest march which was launched under the initiative of Mysuru Kodava Samaja, in association with some of the Kodava Samajas in Kodagu, should have been first discussed by the Federation which is the apex body of all Kodavas and led by the Federation. However, the President said that since it was done in a hurried manner the Federation could not take the leadership.

The Annual General Body Meeting concluded with a vote of thanks followed by a lunch.