Silvester D’ Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, June 14: Udupi district Koraga community organisations and Karnataka Adivasi Rights Coordination Committee began indefinite protests in front of Nada grama panchayat office today under the leadership of Udupi district organizing committee calling for implementation of Dr Mohammed Peer report recommendations. Padukone Koraga community held a rally before starting the protests.

Karnataka Adivasi Rights Coordination Committee Udupi district convener Sridhar Nada said that according to the report, 2.5 acres land should be allotted to each of the 40 Koraga families in the Nada grama panchayat limits.

“The government was unjust without implementing the report. Koraga family has in their possession in Nada grama 4.17 acres land under survey No. 41/1. The community elders have not held the land records properly due to lack of education and knowledge. The local landlords have transferred the records in their names taking advantage of the weakness of Koragas,” he said.

“It is the responsibility of the government to take the community to the next level by providing equipment and assistance for agriculture,” said Udupi unit president Gauri Kinjoor.

Even though the tahsildar arrived at the spot and received their appeal the protesters urged that the deputy commissioner should personally visit the spot and announce the decision.

“All the applications pending at revenue adalat of Koragas should be disposed of and the title deeds should be issued,” they said. The appeal was handed over to Nada panchayat president Dinesh Shetty and PDO Harish.

Koraga community leaders Ganesh V Koraga, Udupi district Koraga organization president Gauri Kenjoor, Adivasi rights coordination committee district convener Sridhar Nada, Raju Padukone, Venkatesh Koni, Suresh Kallagar, Chandrashekar, Sunita, Mamata, Honnamma and Mahabala led the protests.