Karuna for granting ST status to 'narikuravas'

DMK Chief M Karunanidhi has urged the Union government to include the gypsy community of 'Narikuravas' living in the state in the list of Scheduled Tribes (ST).
In his letter to Minister of Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj V Kishore Chandra Deo, he said the community leading a nomadic life from time immemorial was in a quite pathetic and pitiful condition.
"They frequently change their place of stay, as they don't have a permanent place for living. They are socially and educationally far behind from all other communities and are equivalent to Scheduled Tribes. Hence, the community deserves sympathetic attention and all possible assistance by the government," he said.

'Narikuravars' in Tamil Nadu have been demanding, for a very long time, that they be included in the list of Scheduled Tribes for their social and educational upliftment, he noted.
"Historically also, they are a tribal community. Therefore, I am of the view that their demand for inclusion in the list of scheduled tribes deserves profound consideration by the Government of India. I request you to kindly initiate necessary action to include 'Narikuravars' in Tamil Nadu in the list of Scheduled Tribes, which will fulfil their long felt need," he added.