'ST tag for golla community awaits Centre's nod'

Chairman of Backward Classes Commission H Kantharaju, advised the people belonging to Adavigolla and Kadugolla communities not to rest till the Central government gives approves the State government’s decision to include such communities under Scheduled Tribe (ST), recently.

Speaking at a programme, Kantharaju said: “Considering the long-pending demand of Adavigollas and Kadugollas, the State government has decided to include the communities in the ST list. However, it should be recognised by the Centre”.

Gollarahattis
Kantharaju said, there are Kadugollas in various parts of the State, including Mysuru, Bengaluru, Hassan, Chitradurga and Tumakuru districts. The Commission alone has identified 1,141 gollarahattis (colonies) in the State, that await Revenue Village tag as recommended a decade ago.

However, Kantharaju said, gollarahattis are deeply ingrained in superstitions. Women during post-partum period are still banished and women literacy rate is low. Similar is the condition of those communities which have inherited vocations from their ancestors. They should come out of such cobwebs and join the mainstream of the society, he said.

Even bestas (fishermen), ediga, yadava and uppara communities have been given priority by the Commission, he added.

Chamarajanagar MP R Dhruvanarayan said, the communities that were earlier hesitating to be recognised as either SC or STs were evincing interest in joining the lists. “It could be attributed to the awareness among the people about the benefits that could be availed under SC and ST tag. As many as 1,200 castes are identified under SC list, including 102 in the State,” he said.

A view of Channakeshava temple at Somanathapura village, T Narsipur taluk, Mysuru district.