Mysuru: Karnataka Janapada Parishat Chairman Dr. S. Balaji has urged the Government to set up an Exclusive Tribal Academy.

He was speaking at the ‘World Tribal Day’ organised by Mysuru District Kannada Janapada Parishat at Government First Grade College, Kuvempunagar here yesterday.

Alleging that the Governments were ignoring Tribal communities, Dr. Balaji said that although there were 13 Janapada Academy Chairmen in Karnataka, more among them is a tribal.

Stressing on the need for an Exclusive Tribal Academy, he maintained that tribal artistes have retained their old identity by not getting attracted to urbanisation or becoming commercialised.

Pointing out that as part of this year’s World Tribal Day, a group of students from Hospet taluk are forming a tribal youth unit, he called for more studies on tribal life and traditions. He also said that the Parishat will press the Government for introducing Folklore Studies as an optional subject in Pre-University Education.

Writer D.N. Krishnamurthy, in his address, said that folk culture which has a long history extending over centuries, has undergone transformation with the growth of civilisation.

Noting that 8.6 percent of the population still lived in tribal hamlets, he emphasised on the need for providing civic amenities and education to tribals at their hamlets.

Tribal community achievers Janakamma of Periyapatna, Parvathi of H.D. Kote and Srujana of Hunsur taluk were felicitated on the occasion.