Mangalore, April 29: Lack of education, no land of own, untouchability, harassment from all sections of the society were some of the problems highlighted by the representatives of the marginalised communities in Dakshina Kannada district. The community members came out with a list of problems faced by their communities which has blocked their way from being the part of the mainstream.
They were speaking at a discussion programme on 'Marginalised communities and journalism' organised by the Journalists Study Centre, Mangalore at Sahodaya Hall on Saturday. Putting forth the problems, Mathadi from Koraga community said that in the process of becoming a part of the mainstream, his community is losing identity.
“Our community members are forced to migrate from place to place for various reasons and finally we have reached such a state that we do not have a piece of land of our own to stay. Everybody says that we should come to the mainstream for which we are ready, but do not damage our identity in the process,” he requested.
Representing Mansa community, Chennappa Kakkepadav said that their community has not been included in the caste list and the government says that Mansa community does not exist at all. How can this system ignore the presence of a community and deprive us from all the facilities. Mansa community is backward in all aspects.
“Let the government include us in the caste list and provide us the benefits that we deserve,” he demanded.
Sudhakar from Kuthlur from Malekudiya community explained how his community members are harassed by the Anti Naxal Force in the name of anti-naxal operations.
“The ANF men are harassing us mentally and physically for no reason for the last 7-8 years. We have been living our lives in fear. We are forced to evict our forest land due to Kuduremukh National Park project,” he lamented.
Rathi from Pambada community said that her community members are treated without dignity as they practice Nemotsava. “Pambadas will not get respect from the society until and unless we are educated,” she said adding that the students are deprived of schooling as they are made to take part in Nemotsava.
Explaining the education status among the Vadda community members, Krishanand said that the percentage of qualified people in their community is very low. There are seven post graduates from Vadda community who have completed their PG in DK and six in Udupi.
Delivering a talk on 'the history of marginalised communities and the blockades for their development,' Mangalore University History Department Assistant Professor Dr Udaya Barkur said that the history of the coastal district was systematically twisted by the historians.
“Nowhere the historians of this region have mentioned about the presence of slavery in the district. But several documents available in the Oxford University library in London prove the worst slavery system that existed in the district during British era,” he said. He asked the journalists and the marginalised community members to fight for equality.
Thinker and writer from Bangalore Ravikrishna Reddy asked the Dalit community members to fight for the land.
District Working Journalists Association President P B Harish Rai presided over. Safiya Naeem compered the programme.
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