Somanna

Somanna (born June 1, 1957) is an Indian social worker from Karnataka, known for his work in uplifting the Jenu Kuruba tribal community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) of India. He was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honor, in 2024 in the field of social work.

Somanna was the ninth child of his parents, Kunnaiah and Basamma, and witnessed many of his elder siblings dying due to diseases. Following the implementation of the Land Reforms Act, he successfully fought to secure 31 guntas of land for himself in 1980.

Somanna co-founded the Budakattu Krushikara Sangha (Tribal Agriculturists' Association) in 1981, He has also collaborated with organizations like 'Aadivaasigala Munnata Sangha of Kerala' and represented the tribal community of India at an international conference in the Philippines in 1991.