Koraga tribe in Kerala shows declining numbers

Kasargod, July 29 (UNI) Malnourished due to abject poverty and battered by dreaded diseases, Primitive Koraga tribe in Kerala faced serious threat to their survival despite launching various welfare schemes by the government.

Now confirmed in 55 hamlets in Kasargod and Majeswaram blocks bordering Karnataka, their number dwindled to a mere 1,579 as against 1651 according to the 1991 Census, V N Raghunathan, a senior tribal welfare officer working among the primitive group told UNI.

He said medical records had indicated that tuberculosis was the main cause of the casualties, although government-sponsored mobile teams, comprised of doctors and para medics, roamed frequently in the settlements to provide the needy with medical support.

Cancer and leprosy also claimed many lives leading to the shrinking of the community, he said.

Stating that they were living in severe poverty in the absence of any employment, he said their meagre income derived from marketing baskets made of cane collected from Karnataka.

Some of the youth were engaged in laterite stone cutting, masonery work and in beedi-rolling to supplement the family income, the officer said.

Many of the community members were addicted to drinking for which they had to spend a major portion from the paltry income leaving very little for other day-to-day expenses.

However, he said, they were gradually coming to the mainstream as a result of the sustained awareness campaign conducted among the community by the government.

As a result, the community was able to elect three panchayat members from among them while as many teachers work in the nearby schools in the locality.

Their children have, of late, should interest to go to schools as a result of the efforts, he said adding as many as 14 of them passed standard ten this year.

He also said that there were 1,456 Koragas in 469 families in Manjeswaram and 123 here from 37 families taking the total to 1579.

They are staying in permanent houses with water and electricity.

The Korgas, who were blamed of eating carcass, have shun the habit now, he said.

Their settlements were at Badiadka, Meencha, Vorkady, Paivalige, Puthige, Mangalpady, Bellur, Enmagage, Kumbala, Manjeswaram, Vidhyanagar and Pulikur.

UNI