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About 1,206 Koraga and 1,474 Malekudiya families in Dakshina Kannada district will be benefited from the nutritious food being supplied by the government during rainy season.

The nutritious food is supplied for six months in a year. Though the district has three tribal communities —Koragas, Marata Naikas and the Malekudiyas, most of the programmes of the departments have been focusing on the welfare of Koragas because of the poor socio economic status attached to this community. However, as the Malekudiyas are largely residing in Maoist -infested areas in the district, the state government decided to supply nutrition food to them from last year.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, ITDP officer Sabeer Ahammed said that as far as the supply of food items is concerned, it will start shortly, because the tender process has been just completed to declare the contractor. It is likely to be supplied in a week or two.

During monsoon, the search for food becomes very difficult because of incessant rain in the forest region where Koragas live.

Due to lack of food and nutrition, they suffer from anaemia and iron deficiency, especially women and children. To overcome this food crisis among the tribals, the Social Welfare
Department had come out with a scheme to provide nutritious food grains and other essential commodities in 2008.

The Koraga community members received the nutritious food for the last four years for four months. However, it was increased to six months from last year.

Accordingly, the beneficiaries will get 15 kg rice, 30 eggs, two kg tur dal, one kg green gram, one litre cooking oil and two kg jaggery every month. All of the food items will be supplied to the Anganwadi centres from where it will be dispatched to the family members, said the officer.

The official said that Malekudiya families have already started getting the nutrition food from the month of June itself.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Koraga Abhivriddhi Sanghagala Okkuta member Baalaraj said: “The families had demanded change in the food item supplied. Since most of the Koragas are receiving adequate quantity of rice under ‘Anthyodaya,’ there is no need for rice. Instead, they could be supplied with additional quantity of pulses. Though the officials have agreed to communicate this to the higher authorities, we will have to wait for the result,” he said and added that in Udupi district, instead of green gram, the families have sought additional quantity of rice