Madikeri: Members of Codava National Council (CNC) staged a Satyagraha at the Kodagu Deputy Commissioner’s office in Madikeri this morning demanding tribal status for Kodavas. The protest was organised as part of “World Indigenous people’s Day” and was led by CNC President N.U. Nachappa.

In a memorandum addressed to President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiron Rijju and Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala, the CNC has demanded that the Kodava community must be included as Codava Martial Tribal Race and the community must be accorded tribal status under Articles 340 and 342 of Indian Constitution.

“With a solitary intention of protecting our land and acquire all such amenities as employment, education and financial reservations and the like, we are determined to advance our claim for being included in the tribal list,” the memorandum stated.

In addition, the CNC has demanded to include Kodava language in the 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution.

“Kodava race must be globally recognised on par with Jews, Parsis, Sindhi, Yezdi, Kurdi,  Baloch and Pastun, etc. Provisions of Article 371 of our Constitution with inner line permit should be made applicable to Kodagu region as has been done in relation to Manipur and other North Eastern States,” the memorandum stated.