more-inThe International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples was celebrated at the Tribal Resources Centre in Udhagamandalam on Wednesday. More than 100 people from the indigenous communities living in the Nilgiris – the Kotas, Irulas, Kurumbas, Paniyas, Todas and Kattunaickers attended the event, and cultural performances including dances by all the communities were staged. Speaking to The Hindu, Northay Kuttan, President of the Nilgiri Primitive Tribal People’s Federation, said that the event would help bridge the gap that exists between the government machinery and the indigenous people in the Nilgiris. He added that though things were moving in a positive direction, the most pressing issue that needed to be addressed among tribal communities is the recognition of their land rights. Need for solidarityDistrict Superintendent of Police Murali Rambha said that the day emphasised the need for solidarity among tribal communities, and said that there had been a sea change in the means by which the government, police and district administration was interacting with tribals.

Source: The Hindu August 10, 2017 01:30 UTC