'500 nomadic tribes are poverty stricken'

PATNA: About 500 tribes across the country were living in abject poverty, a report by National Commission for denotified nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes says.

Demanding a fair deal to these tribes having a population of over 10 crore but not even having voting rights, Chairman of the commission, Balkrishna Reneke said in its report, to be submitted very soon, the commission would demand that families belonging to these tribes be provided with houses and employment.

The commission which was formed on February 6, 2006 to study the conditions of nomadic tribes across the country would submit its report to the Central government in July, Reneke told reporters here on Tuesday.

The commission, he said, would also demand formation of a permanent commission for the welfare and uplifting of this section of the society.

Reneke said with the enforcement of Wildlife Act, the conditions of this section, which used to earn their livelihood by organising street shows of bear, snakes and monkeys, have further deteriorated and they were on the verge of starvation.