Rudrappa Lamani, Minister for Textile and Hindu Religious Endowment, said on Friday that the State was establishing a multi-disciplinary centre at Bahaddur Bandi village in Koppal taluk for nurturing the Banjara language, culture and tradition, and to take up research.
He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the inaugural ceremony of a two-day national conference. Mr. Lamani said the proposed centre, to come up on 15 acres at an estimated cost of ₹7.5 crore, will have a museum showcasing the Banjara culture, tradition and clothing, and a library with literary material on the Banjara language and community. The centre will also impart training in traditional embroidery and mirror work to women from the community.
“Bahaddur Bandi village is known for its ‘Nyaya Panchayat Katte’, established by the forefathers of the community for dispensing justice. The place is still revered as almost all the tradition and culture is still followed religiously. People from the community from far and wide throng it during Holi. Given all this, the centre was proposed here,” he said.
Hira Naik, personal secretary to the Chief Minister, said: “As our community is spread across the country, we have requested the Centre to appoint a director for taking up research activities to serve other States as well,” he said.