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SOCIETY

It is a matter of pity that the basic ten- tue of her own merit got admission into Tribal Community project, ActionAid
ets promised in the Preamble of the the prestigious Mangalore University. and the Koraga Federation and Sama-
Constitution isn’t clearly visible on the gra Grameena Ashrama have jointly
ground. Though, several legislations The Good Samaritan secured thousands of acres of land for
have been made by the government The Korga population is shrinking the community. As per scheme, around
from time to time, their voices continue alarmingly due to the lack of proper 19,000 people have accessed grants to
to be stifled. health care facility and other basic build homes for them — the first step
requirements, According to the 1981 in the direction of ensuring home for
Inhuman Ajalu practice census, more than 15,000 people every Korga family.
It is a matter of shame that upper-caste were entitled as Koragas but in 2011,
Kannadigas use the services of Koragas the number fell down to 14,000. This Fight for Right
for the Ajalu practice in this 21st cen- downward trend in their population Gowri, who used to work as a labourer
tury. Despite the implementation of the narrates the sorry state of affairs about in the houses of upper caste people said
Karnataka Koragas (Prohibition of Aja- the community. the efforts will support and ensure eve-
lu Practice) Act, 2000, the Koragas are During the darkest days of their life, ry Koraga claims their right to land and
treated as inferior human beings and several non-government organisations will be treated as human beings like
forced to eat leftover food mixed with have come forward to work for the others. “Since decades, we were con-
hair, nails or any other inedible or ob- sidered as worst humans. Now, after
noxious substance. Their plight doesn’t acquiring land for building a house, my
end there. Before the beginning of For several decades, family and others will be able live a dig-
Kambala (buffalo race in marshy land), the Koragas are silently nified life”, said Gowri, mother of four.
Koragas are asked to run like buffaloes. Besides homes, the community
Apart from the inhuman Ajalu practice, tolerating the inhuman will also enjoy its legitimate right over
the Koragas’ fight against malnutrition, 49,000 acres of forest land under the
tuberculosis, high mortality rate, illit- torture as they haven’t community forest rights and individ-
eracy, and others problems is still on. mustered courage to speak ual forest rights while 1,000 acres of
agricultural land will also be allotted to
The language barrier against the social stigma or them.
Neither the Koraga tribe, nor their lan- free themselves from the “The community has faced discrimi-
guage (also known as Koraga) have got nation, untouchability and bondage
due representation in their native place shackles of “slavery”. Here, situations in every walk of its life. Now a
Karnataka, let alone India. In 2011, as the lethal mix of regressive new project will help them live their fu-
many as 15,000 (approx) out of 23 lakh ture life in a well maintained environ-
people in Dakshin Kannada and Udupi tradition continue to ment”, said Sandeep Chachra, Executive
districts of Karnataka were speaking subjugate rationality Director, ActionAid Association India.
the language which was described as a This year ActionAid’s India’s Res-
“secret Dravidian language of Madras” toration of Dignity and Human Rights
by Irish administrator and linguist in development of the tribe. As a result, of Indigenous Tribal Community in
British India George Abraham Gri- scores of bright students from the com- Karnataka project in partnership with
erson. Grierson also said that Koraga munity are trying to script their own the Koraga Federation and Samagra
could be a dialect of Tulu. success story, said Nandini, Regional Grameena Ashrama has also been de-
Manager, ActionAid India (Karnataka). clared as the winner of World Habitat
Lotus grows in the mud Nandini believes the community has Awards Gold Winner 2019. The award
In the true sense, Sabitha can be com- achieved significant progress in sever- was conferred by the World Habitat, a
pared to the lotus that takes root in the al fields but they also need the support UK based organisation, in partnership
mud, but blooms above the surface of of the government to address several with United Nations-Habitat.
mud and water. Despite all odds, and issues that are still pending. “This recognition for the courageous
the social stigma Sabitha completed ActionAid India, which has started and sustained efforts of the Koraga
her M A degree and became the as- several projects across the country, is community would send a message of
sistant professor in the department of also working with the Koragas and nine hope and optimism to other communi-
sociology in Mangalore University in other tribal communities in Karnataka ties across the world in their struggle
2013. She became the first woman from to help them gain access to govern- for a life of dignity and sustainability,”
her community who broke the glass ment schemes meant for them. Sandeep added.
ceiling. Jeetha is another brilliant stu- According to the Restoration of Dig-
dent from the community who by vir- nity and Human Rights of Indigenous LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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