Minister Anjaneya stays overnight in Mururu Koraga Colony
Kundapur: H Anjaneya, Minister for Social Welfare, spent the entire Saturday December 31 night at Mururu Koraga Colony in Kalthodu Gram Panchayat limits under the Bydoor Legislative constituency of Kundapur Taluk.
Anjaneya also had dinner served by the family members of Marli Koraga belonging to the Koraga community. The Minister was accompanied by Gopal Poojary MLA Byndoor, Annappa Shetty president of Kalthodu Gram Panchayat and Venkatesh deputy commissioner of Udupi district.
Marli Koraga, a 65-year-old woman, happily served the minister home cooked dinner. She served chapati, mixed vegetable sambar, bele saru, rice, Basale palya, and kadalebele payasam. Later, people of the Koraga community presented a dance and music programme.
Anjanjeya speaking to the mediapersons said that he had memorable experiences during his overnight stay in all the villages. After staying with the tribal people, I have understood the culture and customs being followed by them on different occasions. For the developmental works in tribal areas of the district Rs 10 crore has been sanctioned. The State government would release more funds if required, for any project that would benefit the tribal communities. Tribals should be allowed to construct houses in places where they live in. All the basic facilities demanded by them should be provided without any fuss, he said.
He also sai that he will urge the chief minister to hike the unit cost of the housing construction to Rs 4.5 lakh as against the existing Rs 2 lakh which is totally insufficient. The Koraga community people are too poor to bear the expenses and are struggling to make their livelihood, he felt.
The minister announced Rs 25000 micro loan to the Mururu Koraga Colony women to purchase cows. The state government will offer a stipend for graduates from Jenu Kuruba and Koraga tribal communities. We are also thinking of providing internal reservation for tribal communities and forest dwellers. At present, they are not able to make it even to a level where they can compete with other Scheduled Castes and Tribes for employment. If we are to provide social, economic and educational justice, we have to provide internal reservation. We are planning to hold a high-level meeting with the Chief Minister and send a proposal to the Centre on this, Anjaneya said.
The minister also said that it was alarming that the number of the Koraga tribal community members, mainly found in the coastal areas, are dwindling. Their population is decreasing rapidly and they are found to be susceptible to many diseases.