Siddu favours separate panel for nomads

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said that the State government favoured setting up of a separate commission for the development of nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes based in Karnataka.

Classified in Kannada as ‘Alemari’, the 120 nomadic groups are scattered across categories with 51 being Scheduled Castes (SCs), 23 making it to the Scheduled Tribes (STs) list and 46 being classified as Backward Classes (BCs).

Tribes like Bhovis and Lambanis are regarded SC despite being “touchable” because Mysuru state classified them as such due to economic marginalisation.

Others have gained ST status. The CM added he would take advice from experts before drafting a Bill which would then enable formation of said commission. He made the comments before a delegation of organisations representing the SC, ST, OBCs, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes.

Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh and political secretary to CM Naseer Ahmed were present.