Codava National Council delegation meets Tribal Research Institute Director

Mysuru: With the State Government re-commissioning an ethnographic and socioeconomic survey to see whether the Kodava community qualifies for tribal status, Codava National Council (CNC) President N.U. Nachappa and other members of Kodava community recently met the Director of Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute, Mysuru, Dr. Basavana Gowda and H. Girish.

The Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute (KSTRI) has been authorised by the Government to conduct the survey. As per the Centre’s directions, the Social Welfare Ministry had entrusted the job to KSTRI and released Rs. 11 lakh for the same.

Meeting Dr. Basavana Gowda and Girish, Nachappa discussed the issue of the survey that was stopped midway under political pressure. Though the survey by a group of research scholars began systematically from Nov. 16, 2016 to Dec. 2016, it was stopped midway by some vested interests who did not want the survey to be conducted, said Nachappa.

He assured the KSTRI heads that Kodavas will cooperate to conduct the survey that will help establish that Kodavas are tribals and the culture and traditions of Kodavas are similar to tribals. The Government cannot grant Kodavas the tribal status unless the survey establishes it, he said.

Dr. Basavana Gowda promised the delegation that KSTRI team will carry out the ethnographic survey scientifically with a judicious approach. The CNC delegation that met the KSRTI officials comprised Mookonda Dilip, Chambanda Janath, Areyada Girish, Apparanda Poovanna and Apparanda Reena Poovanna.

Earlier, addressing a press conference at Pathrakarthara Bhavan in Mysuru, Nachappa thanked Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and the Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge for commissioning the survey. He said that there is an urgent need to sustain Kodava genus under Articles 340 and 342 of the Constitution which provide for the recognition of ethno-linguistic tribal minorities, since the community is dwindling in numbers for many economic and sociological reasons.

The CNC has been spearheading Kodava community’s cause and has held many agitations in this regard. The organisation also has petitioned the State and Centre to conduct the survey and save the distinct community and its culture from vanishing away.

“We are sure that this time the survey will be completed in scientific way and the subject will reach the Parliament through our CM for enactment. If we are included in the Schedule list of our Constitution, our land, language, and cultural heritage will be protected. Our tribalism, habitat, historical continuity will be statutorily ratified besides economic growth, social cultural empowerment and political autonomy,” he said.

“The Kodava tribe must be officially documented and unless and until we are documented, we cannot aspire for any social engineering programmes and will not get entry in the Welfare State theory and socio-economic empowerment envisaged by the Governments,” he added.

CNC calls on CM, Social Welfare Minister

Yesterday, the CNC delegation met CM Kumaraswamy and Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge in Bengaluru. Both assured the delegation that the ethnographic survey will be carried out judiciously and in a scientific way and liberal financial assistance will be provided. Kharge has directed his officials to complete the survey in 3 months.

Meeting the CM, Brijesh Kalappa, AICC Spokesperson and Supreme Court advocate, explained about the tribal status need for Kodavas. Kumaraswamy assured the delegation that Kodavas will be protected under his regime and the ethnographic survey will be conducted with a judicious perspective without any fear, bias or prejudice.