Forest-dwelling tribes push for direct recruitment

Key points

• Members of 12 forest-dwelling tribes, who were promised representation in the State’s civil services in the 2025-26 Budget proposals, have urged the State government to initiate the process for direct recruitment.
• The government had announced that 12 tribes residing on the forest fringes — Jenu Kuruba, Iruliga, Koraga, Soliga, Yarava, Paniyan, Halasaru, Gowdalu, Siddi, Betta Kuruba, Kadu Kuruba, Kudiya, and Malekudiya — would be given jobs in the civil services through a special direct recruitment.
• However, the government is yet to start the process.
• On Wednesday (May 20), the Karnataka State Forest Dwellers Tribal People’s Federation met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi to press for their demands to be implemented.
• They have threatened to launch an agitation if the government fails to fulfill its promise.