Adiwasis seek Tribal University at Kallabetta forest region

The tribal community people want educational empowerment and demand the state government to establish a Tribal University. Ahead of the state budget, tribal community people have urged Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to concentrate on their community for overall development.

Tribal community leaders have submitted a memorandum to the CM, demanding Rs 5,500 crore for their overall development. The community leaders have asked the government to develop a Tribal University at Kallabetta forest region in Hunsur taluk.

The community leaders have demanded Rs 400 crore for academic activities of the community people. "As many as 116 Ashrama Schools in the state need to be upgraded and the responsibility of these institutions must be handed over to the Education department. Ashram schools are being maintained under the Backward Classes Welfare Department, in view of providing primary education to Backward Class students. The ashram schools are providing education, meals and lodging for children studying in grades 1 to 4," the said.

S Sreekanth, director of Development through Education (DEED), an NGO working on tribal rights and education in Hunsur, said, "We have approached Tourism Minister C P Yogeeshwara to fulfil our demands. He has assured of taking a delegation to the CM."

A community leader said, “We have demanded a Tribal University in order to offer higher education to Tribal people. The varsity will definitely encourage the community people to pursue higher education."

He said, "Hundreds of youths in the community are deprived of higher education, due to certain reasons. A separate university for them, at their place, will definitely increase literacy rate among the community people."

The community leaders have put forth 12 demands and have urged for Rs 5,500 crore in the budget. The leaders have demanded Birsa Munda Community halls at 16 haadis of Hunsur taluk. They have urged the government to earmark Rs 50 lakh to each haadi. The tribals have demanded the CM to create a new district, out of Hunsur sub-division, comprising six taluks and urged to earmark Rs 1,000 crore for the purpose.

The community people also demanded the CM to earmark Rs 1,000 crore for the construction of 20,000 houses at a cost of Rs 5 lakh each. In addition, the people of the community demanded establishment of Karnataka Adiwasi Development Board for their overall development. They have urged to reserve Rs 20 crore for the board. The CM should be its chairman, the leaders suggested.