A special package for the comprehensive development of Hunsur taluk with emphasis on tribal communities has been sought during the Devaraj Urs centenary year. But the Chief Minister’s alleged lukewarm response has been disappointing.
A section of tribal leaders led by Srikanth of Development Through Education (DEED), an NGO fighting for tribal rights and their upliftment, met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, during his visit to Kallahalli in Hunsur on Thursday and apprised him of their demands for forest dwellers rights, better schools, extension of civic amenities to the tribal hamlets inside national parks etc.
Welcoming the government’s decision to adopt and develop Kallahalli as a model village, Mr. Srikanth said that Devaraj Urs was nurtured by the entire Hunsur taluk which should be accorded special status with a slew of projects for its comprehensive development. “Since the centenary celebrations is of a person who was committed to social justice and the upliftment of the downtrodden, the government should take cognizance of the living condition of the tribal communities who are among the most backward, deprived of basic amenities and initiate special measures for their development which will make the centenary celebrations more meaningful,” said Mr. Srikanth.
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He said that the demands being aired were not new and wanted the rehabilitation of nearly 1,700 tribal families in Hunsur who lived without basic amenities. The ashram school run by the government to educate tribal children lacked infrastructure and the teachers were neither trained nor committed, said Mr. Srikanth.
The tribals’ right to collect minor forest produces were not being respected by the authorities despite a law upholding their traditional rights and there was a need to establish a tribal university on the lines of folklore university, he added.
More than 25 NGOs have submitted similar memoranda to the Chief Minister on five occasions but he has neither evinced interest nor cared to convene a meeting to discuss the legitimate demands of the tribals, Mr. Srikanth said.
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Their other demands include upgrading 30 gram panchayats in the taluk and ensuring proper drinking water supply and sanitation, infrastructure development in schools and colleges, improvements to hostels in rural areas, upgrading the existing primary health centres and government hospitals in rural areas, rejuvenation of lakes and other water bodies in rural areas, steps to mitigate pollution in the Lakshmanteertha etc.
NGOs want nearly Rs. 600 crore for the development of Hunsur besides Rs.1,300 crore for the development of the 30 gram panchayats and tribal haadis in the taluk.