Codava National Council urges Constitutional Recognition and Autonomy on Republic Day

Codava National Council (CNC) submitted a memorandum to the Kodagu district commissioner in Madikeri.

Madikeri: On the occasion of India's 74th Republic Day, the Codava National Council (CNC) submitted a memorandum to the Kodagu district commissioner, highlighting their long-standing demands for Codavaland Geo-Political Autonomy and Constitutional recognition. The CNC, a vocal advocate for the rights of the Codava tribal community, emphasized the need for self-rule and political autonomy under Article 244, read with the 6th and 8th Schedules of the Indian Constitution.

In their memorandum, CNC President N U Naachappa Codava outlined nine key demands, including the recognition of Codavas as primitive aboriginal indigenous people, the inclusion of Codava Thakk language in the 8th Schedule, and protection of Codava customary rights. The CNC also called for the establishment of a Codava study center, inclusion of Codava heritage in UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list, and the conferment of legal person status to the Cauvery River.

The memorandum drew attention to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Harvard Scholar Dr. Subramanian Swamy in the High Court of Karnataka (WP N0-7769/2023), seeking adjudication on the issue of Codavaland Geo-Political Autonomy. The CNC insisted on the government's compliance with the High Court's order to conduct a comprehensive ethnographic study of Codavas.

Addressing the historical background, the CNC highlighted the unique status of Coorg as a Part 'C' State under the State Reorganization Act of 1956 and its subsequent amalgamation with Karnataka, describing it as a "great Geo-Political catastrophe" for the Codava tribe.

The memorandum urged the Indian government to recognize the Codava tribe as the most primitive tribe of the region and underscored the importance of Codavaland Geo-Political Autonomy within Karnataka under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.

CNC's President expressed concerns about the demographic shift, protection of hereditary communal properties, and the preservation of Codava cultural and historical sites. The memorandum concluded with a plea for Codava representation in the new Parliament.

As the CNC continues its peaceful struggle for the fulfillment of these demands, the Codava tribal community stands united, hoping for an inclusive Republic that respects their cultural identity and aspirations. The CNC's efforts aim to bring Codavas into the fold of India's diverse ethnic landscape, emphasizing the principles of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity embedded in the Constitution crafted by Dr. B R Ambedkar.

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