Tribal committee urges minister to convene meeting

Karnataka Adivasi Hakkugala Samanvaya Samiti state co-convener S Y Gurushanth urged District In-charge Minister Sa Ra Mahesh to convene a meeting to look into the issues of the tribal community.

Addressing reporters in Madikeri on Wednesday, he alleged that the government has completely failed to bring a positive change in the lives of the tribal population. Karnataka is in the 19th position in the implementation of Forest Rights Act 2006.

Even though around two lakh applications have been submitted by the people belonging to tribal communities for their tribal rights, collection of forest products, crematoriums and other facilities, only 12,000 applications have been considered and a mere 300 applicants have been provided with the facilities.

Committee state convener Y K Ganesh said that the people belonging to the tribal community are deprived of sites. People in some tribal hamlets are suffering from malnutrition as they do not have any access to nutritious food.

Leaders J R Prema, Ravi Baradi, Ashok and P Mani were present in the press meet.