Bring Idigas under ST Category, Pranavananda Swami demands

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: Brahmashri Narayanguru Shakthi peeth Pranavananda Swami on Saturday said that he will be holding hunger strike along with his followers on December 10 at Srikrishnadevaraya circle in Gangavathi town in Koppal district to draw the attention of the state government in support of various demands including to grant ST status for Idiga community.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference held here,he wanted the state government to recommend the central government to provide Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Idigas after conducting necessary Kulashastriya Adhayan( Ethnographic study) from Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute in Mysuru.

He also demanded the state government to allocate Rs 500 crore for Narayanaguru Idiga Development Corporation which was announced by the previous BJP government in the state as such measures are must for financial empowerment of the community.

As thousands of Idiga families have lost their ancestral jobs in north Karnataka and other districts, the state government must provide alternate jobs after identifying them.

He also appealed to the chief minister to install the idol of Hendada Maraiah in the premises of Vidhana Soudha besides to celebrate his jayanthi celebrations officially.