Tribal forum wants national holiday on August 9

A Kerala-based tribal forum has urged the Union Government to declare August 9,being observed worldwide as 'International Day of the World's Indigenous People', as a national holiday.
Members of 'Kerala Adivasi Forum' told a press meet here today that the United Nations had declared the day as 'tribal day' in 2005 to recognise the contributions of the global tribal community and create an awareness about them among mainstream society.
"Though India has around 8.5 crore tribal members, our authorities are not showing any interest to recognise the culture and contributions of the tribal community," Sanjeevan Pulikkur, president of the forum, said.

But many countries were observing August 9 with pomp and celebrations, he said.
The forum also protested against recent reported statements by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and rural Development Minister K C Joseph who had said that alcoholism and not starvation among tribal women was the reason for the death of newborns in Attappady in Palakkad.
Sanjeevan added that the ministers should apologise to the tribal community in the state and demanded compensation for it.