The Hindu

• The naxal problem is attributed to the neglect of tribal people
• Tulu is not included as an optional language even in primary school
• More emphasis given to growth of Bangalore `More emphasis given to growth of Bangalore' 

Mangalore, Sep 5: People in power may term it as a separatist movement but Tuluva people are seeking concrete answers from the State Government on the reasons for neglecting Dakshina Kannada district say activists Jayaram Rai Malar and Dinesh Mulky.

According to Rai and Mulky the people have several questions but neither the Government nor the elected representatives or officials are in a position to answer them.

Rai said the politicians from Dakshina Kannada joined the coterie that did not look beyond the development of Bangalore.

As a result, the development of Dakshina Kannada was neglected. Some of the projects that were neglected include the Mangalore-Bangalore railway, irrigation, watershed development and drinking water projects. The poor conditions of National Highways, major district roads, fisheries roads, State highways and public works department roads added to their woes, he added.

Mulky said the neglect towards Dakshina Kannada was more pronounced particularly in the light of high literacy. The people all over the State now felt the difference.

If the policy-makers, officials and politicians continued to favour Bangalore and neglected other areas separatist movements would begin all over the State, he added. He attributed the naxal problem in the district to the total neglect of tribal people and underprivileged classes. The Tuluva tribal people became easy prey to naxalites owing to lack of socio-economic development. The financial package that the Government announced did not reach them either.

Mulky said several leaders including the chairman of the Central Administrative Reforms Commission M Veerappa Moily had represented the need for including Tulu language into the eighth schedule of the constitution but the Centre and the State did not take any action.

He said Tulu was one of the languages cited in the list of official languages of several universities in Canada, United States, Australia and some countries in Europe. But the Karnataka Government did not even include Tulu as one of the optional languages for primary classes, he added.