No proposal to set up Beary development corporation, says Karnataka minister Zameer Ahmed Khan

Mangaluru: The Beary-speaking community in the coastal Karnataka region has been seeking establishment of a Beary development corporation for the overall welfare of its population and the promotion of the language. However, the govt has made it clear that no such proposal to establish a development corporation for the Beary community is pending before it.
Minority affairs minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan stated that the department has not received any proposal in this regard yet. MLC Ivan D'Souza sought a reply from the minister regarding the demand for a corporation for the Beary community during the recently concluded legislature session.
D'Souza said that the Beary language, a subsidiary of the Dravidian languages, has a history of over 1,200 years. "The Beary community, which encompasses a rich culture attached to their language, has a population of over 25 lakh people spread across the state. The community has a large presence in the coastal region of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, as well as in Kodagu. The community also has presence in other parts of the nation and in foreign countries," the MLC said.
He noted that the community has brought to the notice of the govt its demand for a development corporation for educational and social development on several occasions in the past. However, no efforts have been made by the govt yet, the MLC said.
In his reply to the MLC, Khan stated that the Karnataka Minority Development Corporation (KMDC) has been implementing several schemes, including loans and financial aid distribution, for the welfare of Muslim, Christian, Jain, Buddhist, Sikh, and Parsi communities in the state. As Beary community is also considered a part of the Muslim religion, several govt scheme benefits have been made available to the community through the KMDC, the minister added.