BANGALORE: Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs S Suresh Kumar will lead a delegation of representatives from the Jogi community to meet Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and discuss the issues hampering the growth of this minority group. He announced this at a congregation of Akhila Karnataka Nathapantha Ravala Jogi Samaja (AKNRJS) on Sunday.
After formally accepting a memorandum of demands from H D Nagaraj, High Court advocate and honanary president of AKNRJS, Suresh Kumar said,“I have been told about the problems the community is facing. I will soon escort a team of members from the community to the CM. I will discuss the issues with him and ensure solutions as per my capacity.”
The minister honestly confessed his ‘ignorance’ about the Jogi community. He said, “Let me be honest here. I was never aware about the Nathapantha Ravala Jogi community. You can call it my ignorance.”
He added, “I have been told that the community is helpless and backward. Those who should have helped the community have done little. Hopefully, at the next congregation, the Jogi community will not have a memorandum of demands.” Suresh Kumar also urged the members of the community to focus on education. “Let us resolve on New Year’s day that we shall focus on education for the development of the community,” he said. Demands of the Community The 25000-member community has placed social, educational and financial demands before the state government.
These demands include creation of political opportunities for representation of the community, employment, schools and colleges, a convention and marriage hall in the city and an appraised status for the rightful recognition of native folk practices of the community.