Members of the Koraga community in Karnataka's Udupi district have temporarily called off their indefinite protest after securing a crucial assurance from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarding their demands for government jobs.
Strike Withdrawn After 25 Days
The youth from the Koraga community, classified under the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG), had been staging an indefinite strike since December 15. Their primary demand was direct recruitment in government services, citing an inability to compete with other, more advanced tribal communities during standard job recruitment processes.
Sushila Nada, representing the Federation of Koraga Development Associations, stated that the protest was suspended following a positive response from the Chief Minister. "Our strike continued for 25 days. We met CM Siddaramaiah and Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh to explain the situation of the PVTG community. They responded positively to our demands," she said.
A Community's Struggle for Representation
Nada highlighted that there are nearly 2,000 educated youths from the Koraga community in the Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts alone. Despite persistent efforts over the last four decades, which have seen community members attain post-graduate degrees, MBBS, and LLB qualifications, social stigma and historical disadvantages create a significant barrier in open competition.
"It would be difficult for PVTG members to compete with other tribal communities, especially due to the social stigma. Hence, there is a need for the govt to handle the situation sensitively," Nada urged. The community's demand is for the government to give first priority to PVTGs like the Koragas and Jenu Kurubas during recruitment for vacant posts.
Government's Promise and a Looming Deadline
The breakthrough came when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah agreed to consider the demand for direct recruitment. However, the community has set a clear deadline for the government. "The govt should issue an official order in this regard by May this year," Sushila Nada asserted.
She issued a stern warning that if the necessary steps are not taken by the administration, the indefinite protest will be resumed directly in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office in Udupi. This places significant pressure on the state government to translate its verbal assurance into concrete policy action within the next few months.
The temporary withdrawal marks a moment of cautious hope for the Koraga community, whose educated youth await a tangible pathway to public sector employment, aiming to overcome systemic hurdles through targeted government intervention.
