Community leaders, opinion-makers, faith-based healers, men & women farmers, adolescent girls and Poshan Mitras from Korku community came together to build consensus on the inclusion of Korku language in the elementary education, promotion of millet by the government functionaries & building clarity on the tribal rights such as FRA & PESA and MNREGA.

150 community representatives from 108 targeted Korkus dominated villages of Khalwa block (Khandwa-Madhya Pradesh) & Chikkaldhara and Dharni block (Amravati-Maharashtra) discussed these issues during the 2-day inter-state korku vikas samelan on July 6&7, 2018 at Khandwa. The event was organised by Caritas India under its flagship programme ‘SABAL’ – An integrated food and nutrition security for the Korku community.

During the opening ceremony, MLA Shri Manju Dadu who alos belongs to korku tribe requested the community participant to motivate their children to continue their education and to strengthen their roots by preserving their own culture and tradition. She also appreciated Caritas India for taking initiative for the inclusion of Korku language which can help in increasing the attendance in the anganwadis and other elementary schools raising their interest in learning.

The programme was inaugurated by MLA of Nepanagar – Shri Manju Dadu, Former Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) Commissioner – Mr. GP Garad, Khandwa ICDS – District Project Officer – Mr. Sanjay Bhardwaj, Dharni Mahamandal RM – Mr. GR Kotalwar, Sabal Programme Manager – Mr. Robin George, Mr. Jai Nagda – India Today (Senior Reporter) & Sabal Poshan Mitra Representative – Ms. Saroj Kajle. At the moment Mr. Sanjay Bhardwaj supported the demand of inclusion of millet in the mid-day meals under the Sanjha Chula initiative.

Three-panel sessions were organized during the two-day programme for the promotion of millet cultivation and inclusion in the PDS by Prakash Michael, Spandan Samaj Seva Samiti & Mukund Deshmukh, APM – Sabal and moderated by Fr. Benjamin Horo. The panel session on the inclusion of Korku language in the elementary education was shared by Dr. KV Barhate, Dr. Sunil Mavaskar, Prof. Ramgopal Bilawekar and chaired by Fr. Jayan Alex & moderated by Mr. Sushil Richardson. The session on tribal rights and entitlements for the Korku community was taken by Ms. Purnima Upadhyay & Bro. Jose Kallely who has extensively worked on advocating the rights of Korku basically on FRA, PESA and MNREGA.

The programme was concluded in the presence of senior activist and social worker Mr. Patlaya Guruji who have been working for the development of Korku community in Dharni block & Mr. Asif Siddique, Editorial In-charge – Patrika News.

The community vowed to raise the issue in the upcoming Gram Sabha and submitting the memorandum at district-level to the collector and local MLA before the election.

The whole programme was organized and coordinated by the Sabal partners’ staff – Khandwa Diocesan Social Services (KDSS), Spandan Samaj Seva Samiti, Dayasagar Social Center & Jeevan Vikas Sansthan (JVS).