Karantaka: Tribe shuns begging, toils for daily bread

HAVERI: Four nomadic families, traditionally called Duramurgi, residing on the outskirts of Kaginele village in Byadagi taluk, have shunned their habitual practice of begging and become labourers under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
For years, members of the four families begged on the streets for their livelihood. However, the lockdown hit their begging prospects badly and eventually the Nagaraj, Ramanna, Gutteppa, and Lakshmavva Duramurgi families, decided to work under the MGNREGA scheme. They received their first week wages of Rs 1,925 per person recently.
The families celebrated by distributing sweets. They have decided to shun begging and work for their livelihood. Nagaraj Duramurgi, 23, said apart from begging, he has never earned any cash before.
“I’m thrilled,” Nagaraj said. “We used to beg in villages and sleep in temples. It was a life without any respect. We were unaware of this scheme, but now we will continue to work under the scheme.” He was thankful to staff and elected representatives of Kaginele gram panchayat for their help.
Ramanna Duramurgi, 55, said, “Many families are still involved in begging. We stuggled during the lockdown.”
PDO Vishwanath Kattegoudra said the families had approached his staff seeking help. “We suggested they work under MGNREGA scheme and they agreed. I got a bank top open accounts in their names.”