CNC calls for ‘Bangalore Chalo’ on June 16
Posted by barunroy on June 1, 2008
CNC demands Central legislation to protect the traditional land rights of Kodavas
Seeks special status for Kodagu on a par with Jammu and Kashmir
Madikeri: The Codava National Council (CNC), which is demanding the creation of a ‘Codava Autonomous Region’ in the State, will organise ‘Bangalore Chalo’ from here on June 16. [Inset: Madikeri Town - Kodava.org]
CNC secretary-general N.U. Nachappa told presspersons here on Saturday that the CNC would also stage a satyagraha on Mahatma Gandhi Road in Bangalore to press for its demands.
Mr. Nachappa said the CNC would urge the Government to consider its demands.
The first was to take steps to create a Codava Autonomous Region (CAR) on the lines of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. Forty-five ‘nads’ (groups of villages) inhabited by Kodavas in Kodagu in the past should be merged to carve out the CAR, he said.
Land rights
In view of the traditional land rights enjoyed by Kodavas, he said Central legislation should be enacted to protect their rights, including ‘jamma’, a form of land tenure. One of the demands of the CNC, Mr. Nachappa said, was that special status be accorded to Kodagu, similar to that of Jammu and Kashmir and the north-eastern States.
Reservations
Kodavas should be considered a minority tribal community for the purpose of extending reservation in all spheres. Buduru Srinivasulu, a member of the National Tribal Commission, had recommended minority tribal status for the Kodavas after his visit to Kodagu some time ago. The State Government should view this seriously, he said.
Including the Kodava language in the VIII Schedule of the Constitution and its introduction in all fields was on CNC’s list of demands. Mr. Nachappa urged the Government to allot land at what he called the ‘Kodava Kund’, near Napoklu, to establish a Kodava university. [The Hindu]
Also check out: www.kodava.org for more info on Kodavas
