Mangalore: Thanks to DK-DC, N.S. Channappa Gowda, 24 Koraga families have ownership rights over the lands they have been living on, and they could at least apply for title deeds now to be owners. He held a meeting of Koraga leaders at DCA, on Tuesday here, with NGOs partaking.

Dr. Gowda stated that there were 857 Koraga tribal families, the poorest in DK-ST  population, of which 501 families were given land ownership rights, while 209 families cultivated some Government lands, and 24 families lived in forest areas.

However, as many as 122 other families lived outside this reckoning, on other forms of land. 356 families do not have ownership deeds, DC said.

He gave one month’s deadline to the Taluk Tahsildar, to complete the process of creating title deeds for them.  Those tribals living on Government land have to apply for approval and receive title deeds after verification of such applications, DC added.

Koragas as a tribe (downtrodden) are far-flung in Bantwal, Sullia, Mangalore, Belthangady and Puttur taluks. Their girls are working as health motivators on small honorarium (fees). D.C distributed cheques to some families to build homes.

Additional DC Dayanand and Assistant Commissioner Dr. Venkatesh were present.