K'taka to conduct survey of nomadic, denotified tribes

Bangalore, Dec 28 (UNI) The Karnataka Government will conduct a survey of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic tribes living in the State.

An assurance to this effect was given by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes Chairman Balakrishna S Renuke, who met him here today.

Later talking to newspersons here, Mr Renuke said that after the Commission explained the plight of people belonging to these tribes, the Chief Minister promised that a survey would be conducted, after which the tribes would be provided all the benefits given to people below the poverty line.

He said the Commission, set up for the first time in the country, had toured 12 States and was expected to submit its report by February.

Mr Renuke said that according to an estimation, there were about 15 crore people belonging to these tribes, including about 50 lakh in Karnataka.

Since these tribes were not identified and deprived of the benefits of welfare schemes of the Union and State Governments, the Commission was formed to identify them and recommend steps to offer all help to bring them to the mainstream of society, he said.

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