The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : KBA to soon submit report on survey of nomadic groups

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

KBA to soon submit report on survey of nomadic groups

K.N. Venkatasubba Rao

It will be the first such survey in50 years
Kannada Book Authority proposed the survey

Bangalore: The Kannada Book Authority (KBA) will soon submit a primary report on the first comprehensive survey in the past 50 years of 23 nomadic communities in the State.

The survey may have a bearing on the internal reservations, if implemented.

Official surveys, independent studies, census reports and Gazetteers on nomadic communities had failed to project a correct picture of these communities, according to sources. The KBA submitted a proposal to the Government in 2004 emphasising the need for a comprehensive survey to ensure social justice. The Government approved the survey on the grounds that the communities had not been properly identified by any of the backward classes commissions.

Young team

A team of young research scholars from the nomadic communities have been conducting the survey, which records their lifestyles in with historical, geographical, cultural, sociological and economic perspectives.

KBA chairman S.G. Siddaramaiah told The Hindu that the first phase of the survey had revealed many interesting things about the living conditions of these communities.

Several problems

Many communities were facing problems on several fronts, including the question of identity. Some had identified themselves with non-nomadic castes that came under the purview of the reservation category.

For instance, some communities had identified themselves as a Schedule Caste or Schedule Tribe to get the benefits of reservation. But they had kept their customs and traditions intact, Prof. Siddaramaiah said.

K.M. Metri, head of the Department of Tribal Studies, Kannada University, Hampi, who is from a nomadic community, said on the telephone that a majority of the nomadic communities were faced with an identity crisis because of the Government’s indifference.

Inadequate funds

Although the proposal had sought Rs. 30 lakh for the survey, the Government agreed to provide Rs. 18 lakh, but finally sanctioned Rs. 10 lakh and released Rs. 2 lakh. Many of the researchers have been pooling out their own money to go ahead with the survey.

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