asked in 2005

1. How is the situation for Indian tribal people today?

The situation of the tribal people in India who form 8% of the total population, as improved since independence. But, it is not enough and it could have been better. The North-Eastern, Central & South Indian tribal people have their own specific regional problems. In Karnataka state the major issues are: a) Rights on Natural resources including the Minor Forest Produce b) The tribal areas yet to be declared as “Scheduled areas” c) Other caste groups being included as scheduled tribes d) Government services – health, education and tribal development programs not reaching the tribal people. The Chief Minister of Karnataka held a Cabinet meeting at VGKK, BR Hills to address these issues.


2. Did you achieve “Health for All” in the tribal settlements by 2000 as you had hoped?

Yes, we have achieved the goals set for “Health for All” in the tribal settlements of Yelandur, Chamarajanagar, Kollegal and Nanjangud Taluks of Chamarajanagar and Mysore Districts. The IMR (Infant Mortality Rate), MMR (Maternal Mortality Rate), and several other health indicators show that the health of tribal people has improved considerably. The Tribal hospital at B.R.Hills, Mobile Medical Unit which goes round the tribal hamlets and Tribal ANMs, tribal women who have been trained as Auxillary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and posted at 16 Tribal Sub-centres in the tribal settlements have made this possible. The integration of Traditional medicine and Modern medicine has also played an important role.


3. Why did VGKK evolve from medical help to fostering self-organisation of communities?

Medical service was a good entry point to establish support with tribal people and to take care of their medical emergencies. However, I had no pills to solve the broader issues of Poverty, Malnutrition, Rights over natural resources and Exploitation. That could only be done by organising tribal people and empowering them to solve their own problems. It was a gradual evolution from Curative Health – Community Health – Community Development – Sustainable Development.


4. Did you achieve “Education for all”?

Yes, all the tribal children are enrolled in the tribal schools and there are intense efforts to bring back the drop out children to schools. VGKK has evolved an integrated approach to education – Pre-school, School & Adult literacy. Out of the first batch of six students who joined the school in 1981, four students have completed their Masters degree. 12 batches of students have passed out of VGKK school and graduated as Nurses, teachers, technicians & Forest guides – all of them are back serving their own community. Jadegowda has completed his Masters Degree in Agriculture and he is doing his PhD. He is now the president of VGKK.


5. What is your policy on tribal development?

There are two extreme views on tribal development: a) not to intervene – leave them alone  b) to bring them to the so called “National Main stream”. It is not possible to “leave them alone and not to intervene” as most of them are already interacting with the so called civilised world and are being exploited by them excepting the “Sentinel” tribes in Andaman Islands. It is important to strengthen the Core Culture of the tribal people and empower them to face the exploitation and become self-reliant. Once they are empowered they themselves will determine their future.


6. What effect has the Right Livelihood Award had on your work?

The RLA Award had several positive effects on my work:

1. The Government of Karnataka and Government of India have recognised VGKK and its unique role in tribal development.
2. The media coverage on VGKK has given wider publicity and many NGOs and Government officials visit VGKK to learn from our experience.
3. The resource mobilisation for VGKK activities has improved.
4. The entire Award money has been made in to an endowment and the interest is being used for the tribal health & education. It has given financial stability to VGKK.