Tribal organisations seek Kalam's help for tabling of ST Bill

B R Hills, Karnataka, Oct 15 (UNI) Various tribal organisations from South Karnataka today presented a memorandum to President A P J Abdul Kalam, requesting him to prevail upon the Union government to place the Scheduled Tribes Bill 2005, which recognises the forest rights of the tribals living in the forest areas in the country.

The President was in the state to take part in the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra here and also celebrated his 76th birthday amidst tribal children.

The organisations demanded appointment of an expert committee by the parliament to provide justice to the tribals living in forest dwellings. Tribal community had suffered injustice for long time and various governments that ruled the country had not recognised their rights, the memorandum said.

The Tribal associations were drawn from H D Kote, Priyapatna, Hunsur and Mysore districts.

UNI BSP RS SP HT1707