The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Special package sought for nomadic shepherds

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 02, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Special package sought for nomadic shepherds

Special Correspondent

Vedike says they have been denied basic facilities
Forest officials accused of harassing shepherds

Bangalore: The Karnataka Rajya Sanchari Kuruba Hitha Rakshana Vedike has demanded that the Government come out with a special package to improve living conditions of nomadic shepherds (Kurubas).

Speaking to presspersons here on Wednesday, secretary of the vedike B.C. Venugopal said that the Kurubas were denied basic facilities such as ration cards, voting rights, healthcare and education for children because of their itinerant lifestyle.

“Sanchari Kurubas, most of whom hail from north Karnataka, travel throughout the year. They reach as far as the Malnad region with their sheep. Their names are in the voters list in their villages. Their ration cards are also not valid in the places they travel to. This denies them not only access to foodgrains, but also educational and health facilities at concessionary rates,” said Mr. Venugopal.

Mr. Venugopal said that the shepherds were constantly harassed by officials of the Forest Department and other government functionaries.

They were not getting a reasonable price for wool, he said.

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