MANGALORE: ‘Koragas,’ the most backward community of the district, will prove their efficiency in the society by involving themselves in agriculture. In fact, they can become the role model for others, said Social Welfare Minister Kagodu Thimmapa here on Monday.

He also said the State Government had provided 60 acres of land for 60 Koraga families. In the rehabilitation process efforts would be made to mould the value-based family system which needed the cooperation from the society, he added.

After analysing the site given to them in Mudur near Kollur, the minister admitted that due to lack of sincere efforts, the project of rehabilitation had not been completed. In this regard cooperation was needed from the Koraga folk, he added.

The minister also instructed the officers to conduct an immediate survey of Koragas and scrutinise the applications given by them for rehabilitation.

Under the Ambedkar, Mangalya Bhagya and other schemes, Rs 60 crore had been earmarked for the construction of 2,700 houses in Mysore, 400 houses in Dasapura especially for Kurubas engaged in bee keeping industry, agricultural and other activities, he explained.

The minister also made it clear that private lands would be acquired if necessary for the construction of houses for Koragas only when government land was not available.