The Keystone Foundation in Kotagiri, Nilgiris, have issued a statement taking “strong objections to the false accusation and allegations” made against the organisations, by local political parties and individuals.
The statement comes in the wake of an interview given by Professor Paul Hockings, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of Illinois, who made the assertion that a population of Badagas, the largest ethnic group in the Nilgiris migrated to the hill district from Mysore around four centuries ago, and that they had associations with the indigenous communities in the Nilgiris.
In a statement, the Foundation said that it is “an eco-development group working for three decades in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve with tribal communities. Our work has brought national and international awards, and recognition to the district and to the cause of sustainable development in the mountains. We are not in the real estate business as the reports falsely state,” they said.
