Cultural centre - Thesis

Page 42

Natural and Artificial Threats in Dandeli The main natural threat to Dandeli would be the effect of it’s thriving tropical hilly nature of environment which would lead to heavy rainfall and in turn leading to flooding. But this is not of bigger concern as the site chosen tapers downwards towards the edges and corners and the center of the site banks upwards opposite to gravity. The main geological threat to dandeli would be the landforms conforming to river edge as theland is a fairly young one and this can be proven by looking at the beaches of Uttara Kannada. An artificial threat lurking close to Dandeli is that of the Kaiga Nuclear Power plant with is located around 22 kilometers away. Even though the city has a prepared contingency for if a disaster strikes the nuclear power plant, one cannot help if a Chernobyl-esque situation could occur nearby on a smaller scale. An actual boon for Dandeli is is the Supa Dam close by which provides water and hydroelectric energy for all the communities and localities of Dandeli.

5.

Social and economic benefits

Like Siddhi populations across the sub-continent, Siddhis in Karnataka also have remained isolated, and economically and socially neglected. In 1984, at the instance of the Secretary of the Rural Welfare Trust, Dandeli and few others, an "All-Karnataka Siddi Development Association" was formed to bring Siddhis together and work for their integrated development. K. V. Subbanna, the Magsaysay awardee also made some efforts in this direction with his Ninasam. On 8 January 2003, the Union government brought the Siddis under the list of Scheduled Tribes with a view to empowering them constitutionally. Further, policies to provide homes for homeless Siddis, water facilities, education, employment opportunities, roads, electricity, mobile hospitals 2 acres (8,100 m2) of land to each Siddi family and the right to collect forest products were also endorsed by parliament. It is hoped that proper implementation of these policies would go a long way in helping the Siddhi community enhance their social and economic status. Internationally too, awareness of sub-Saharan African diaspora in the east has been limited. In 2006, however, 'The African Diaspora in Asia'(TADIA), a UNESCO backed initiative has also evinced interest in the rehabilitation of this tribe. Headed by Prof Angenot of Brazil, it has become the academic link between the Siddis of Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh and other research scholars. It aims at involving academic research, promoting cultural exchanges and raising funds for education and employment generation programmes for the Siddis.

41 | SHCC


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