World Tribal Day: K'taka to form Nomadic & Tribal Communities Commission
Bengaluru, Aug 11
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday assured that the Karnataka government would constitute a Commission for Nomadic and Tribal Communities within a month, stating that empowering marginalised communities was the government's responsibility.
Speaking at the World Tribal Day celebrations held at Ambedkar Bhavan in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said a request had already been submitted to the government seeking the establishment of the commission.
"We have requested the government to constitute a Nomadic and Tribal Communities Commission, and a decision will be taken within a month. This is also part of our government's manifesto," he said.
Shivakumar said tribal communities had a close relationship with nature and urged them not to forget their roots while pursuing education and development. He described tribal communities as "children of nature", acknowledging the difficulties they face and highlighting government programmes aimed at improving their lives, including education.
He recalled the Forest Rights Act introduced during the UPA government and said he was aware of the struggles and aspirations of tribal communities, particularly those living in his constituency.
"Give priority to education and become educated and aware. But do not abandon your traditional occupations. Only when the roots are strong can one bear fruit. As Dr B.R. Ambedkar said, a person who forgets history cannot create history. Do not forget your roots, principles and ideals of life," Shivakumar said.
He assured the gathering that the government would provide the benefits due to tribal communities and urged parents to ensure that their children receive education.
"We have declared revenue villages and provided title deeds and houses. A request has been made for the establishment of a Nomadic and Tribal Communities Commission, and a decision will be taken within a month," he said.
Shivakumar said it was the government's responsibility to empower communities that had suffered for generations. He added that his teachers had guided him with the belief that humanity should prevail and that peace in the world could be achieved through righteousness.
He also said the government had decided to provide urban students with an opportunity to spend three days in villages to understand the lives and struggles of rural communities.
Urging tribal communities not to give up their traditional way of life and ancestral assets, he said they should take pride in their identity and heritage.
The Chief Minister said the government was committed to providing tribal communities with education, housing, land, food, employment and the benefits of its guarantee schemes.
"In the past, Jawaharlal Nehru had tribal people inaugurate dams. Our relationship with you is like the relationship between a devotee and God. We are committed to providing you education, housing, land, food and employment. We have introduced five guarantee schemes for you. Has any other government provided such schemes?" he asked.
He called upon tribal communities and the government to support each other, saying the government was committed to respecting their labour and contribution.
"There should be no inferiority complex among you. Live your traditional life with pride. Do not give up your roots," he said.
The Chief Minister also urged members of tribal communities to ensure that their voting rights were protected during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
"Protect your voting rights during the SIR process. We have also taken steps to provide you with caste and residence certificates," he said.
Shivakumar reiterated that the government would continue to work towards improving the socio‑economic conditions of nomadic and tribal communities and ensuring that they receive access to education, housing, land, employment and other welfare benefits.
— IANS
Reader Comments
"Children of nature" - nice phrase, but where's the action plan? We've heard such assurances for decades. The Forest Rights Act was good, but implementation on ground is pathetic. Tribal families in my district still don't have proper land titles. Instead of big speeches at Ambedkar Bhavan, show us concrete timelines and budgets. The five guarantee schemes sound good, but rural tribal areas rarely see the benefits reach.
As someone from the Hakki Pikki community, I feel a mix of hope and skepticism. We've been marginalised for generations, and every election season brings promises. But I appreciate CM Shivakumar acknowledging that empowering us is the government's responsibility - that's a legal and moral obligation, not charity. The idea of urban students spending 3 days in villages is interesting. Perhaps it will create awareness among young people about our struggles and rich culture.
Interesting to read about Karnataka's approach. Down under, we have the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, but it's often underfunded and lacks real power. I hope the Karnataka commission learns from these global experiences. The emphasis on education while preserving traditional occupations is a delicate balance. Education should be a bridge, not a reason to abandon heritage.
Beautiful words from the CM about not forgetting roots. But let's be honest - how many of these "commissions" actually function effectively? The Protection of Civil Rights Act exists since 1955, yet violations continue. However, I must give credit where due - the assurance of caste and residence certificates during SIR is practical help. Atleast they're addressing documentation issues which are the first barrier for tribal communities. Let's watch the one-month deadline closely! 🤞
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