H.S. Ballal, Pro-Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), said on Monday that it was essential to provide better opportunities to the communities.
He was speaking after inaugurating a two-day seminar-cum-conference on tribal communities of Coastal Karnataka organized by MAHE and Academy of General Education at the Bhandarkars Arts and Science College at Kundapur in Udupi district.
Prof. Ballal said that basic facilities should be provided to tribal communities. There was now a lot of talk about an increase in global warming owing to environmental destruction. However, the tribal communities had been living in the forests for centuries. They had been playing a vital role in protecting and preserving the land, water and environment in the forests for centuries. Hence it was necessary that everyone thanked them for it. It was essential that all people helped these communities and also make efforts to bring them to the mainstream. It was wrong to depend on government to do everything, Prof. Ballal said.
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An exhibition of various items and equipments used by tribal communities and a photography exhibition were inaugurated by V.N. Patil, Professor, Folklore Department, Karnatak University.