An elusive quest for political representation
The Hindu
The upcoming Karnataka Assembly election has brought to the fore the question of the inadequate representation of tribal communities and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) in the political process.
The upcoming Karnataka Assembly election has brought to the fore the question of the inadequate representation of tribal communities and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) in the political process.
In the run-up to the poll, the office of the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) took up a special drive to enrol all eligible voters from the Jenu Kuruba and Koraga communities, both of which are PVTGs in the State. The drive achieved 100% enrolment as per the final electoral rolls published on January 5.
However, marginalisation in these communities is true not only with respect to the political process but also in terms of education, health, and employment.
Susheela Nada, president of the Federation of Koraga Development Associations in Karnataka and Kerala, says that the Koraga community’s population was about 20,000 according to the 1991 census, but has declined since then. ‘’Decline in the population is a major concern but the reasons are not ascertained,” she says while pointing to health issues, including the prevalence of rare diseases among the Koragas.
In the case of Jenu Kurubas, apart from the population decline, their life span is lower than the average life expectancy in the country. This calls for scientific studies to ascertain the cause and make appropriate interventions, says Prabha Urs, deputy director of the Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute (KSTRI). On educational parameter, the Jenu Kurubas are at the bottom of the ladder with just a handful of graduates; the Koragas are relatively better off, but only marginally.
While the Jenu Kurubas live in Mysuru, Kodagu and Chamarajanagar, the Koraga community mainly lives in Udupi and the Dakshina Kannada belt, apart from small pockets in Kasargod in Kerala. KSTRI has pegged the population of Jenu Kurubas at 36,076 while the population of the Koragas is 14,794, according to the 2011 census.
There is a strong perception that numerically dominant communities within the Scheduled Tribes in the State have cornered all political and socio-economic benefits.