Vishwa Adivasi Dina, art festival

The 24th Vishwa Adivasi Dina will be observed in Bengaluru on August 9, Srinivasa Gowdulu, state joint secretary of the Adivasi Parishat, has said.

“The State Adivasi Rakshana Parishat, the respective organisations representing Alemari, Are Alemari and Vimukta tribal communities and the Kalaburagi division of the Kaginele Kanaka Gurupeetha are jointly organising this,” Gowdulu said.

He was addressing a press meet in town on Thursday. Gowdulu told the reporters, “The programme will be inaugurated by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy at 10 am on August 9 at the Dr B R Ambedkar Bhavan in Vasanthnagar, Bengaluru. Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will preside over the programme. Kaginele Kanaka Gurupeetha seer Siddaramarooda Swami will grace the occasion.”

“Minister Priyank Kharge will inaugurate the tribal art festival. Minister Bandeppa Kashempur, Social Welfare Department adviser Venkataiah will also participate in the programme,” he added.

“The Vishwa Adivasi Dina is being observed by the United Nations since 1995. In the state, the Adivasi Rakshana Parishat took up the organisation of the Adivasi Dina and has been doing so since 2011. Chief Minister Kumaraswamy has been handed a memorandum requesting that the Adivasi Dina be organised by the state government and he has responded positively,” Gowdulu explained.

Muttappa, the state-level joint secretary of the Adivasi Sangha, also spoke on the occasion.

“The state government should take the initiative to waive the loans of the Adivasi Cooperative Society. Adivasis should be given a reservation of up to 7.5% at least. Also, the homeless tribals should be given sites and houses,” he demanded.

Speaking further, the joint secretary said, “The Karnataka government should follow the Andhra Pradesh model to solve the problems of the tribal communities. The government should declare tribal regions in the state. Special facilities should be given to the community members. In addition, the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 should be in better efficiency.”

P Rajesh, district president of the Adivasi Parishat, said, “The Adivasi Dina is being observed with an intention of getting the tribals to the mainstream of society. The participants at the programme will be provided information regarding the government facilities for tribals.”

Sundar Kumar, Mudigere taluk unit president of the Adivasi Sangha; and Ramesh, who is a member; were present.