These tribes mostly live in deep forests of KeralaMountains.
Kerala itself is a place of tourism, its mountain is more beautiful and greenery all the places worth visiting as tourist.
Mainly three types of tribes Mudugan, Urumban and Irulan. Many tribes are taking the advantage of privilege being Aadivasis
(Scheduled tribes) many of them are in education especially young generation. But still the efforts needed to uplift them
as many in interior forest are still deprived. One thing I have seen common problem with most of tribes is, many necessary
items they get for almost 6-7 times more expensive than we get in urban cities and they get less price for what they sell
to outside world. People awareness in kerala is so good that education campaign is very successful (not in tribal area) but
most unfortunate for Kerala is that unemployment crisis is serious problem. Over 60% young generations are out of the state
with their good qualification for employment. Government has not been able to overcome this problem. Another bigger problem
Kerala is facing: is red flag of trade unions, a company is opened and a red flag is on.
Mr. Rangan who guided me to tribal village
I visited state of Kerala (India)
in district of Attapadi and Mukkali village and contacted Mr. C. Rangan who is also a tribe but with little education (5th
standard) and works in forest department.
click to view enlarged
husband / wife and hut of mudugan tribes
Moopar is called for head of the village
He took me to a tribal oor (Tribal village) name Karuvara
oor and introduced me to Moopar (head of the village). This village has about 35 houses with population of around 1300 including
men, women and children. Family planning campaign is too weak for most of tribes in India.
Boy to give dowry or work in brides house for marriage in their old tradition
click to view enlarged
These women are very shy but r very hardworker
Traditional name "Patch Kuthu" of tattoo is for safety of a woman
click to view enlarged
tattoo (pach kuthu) used by irulan tribes women
Malliswaran hills
Malliswaran hills
This hill has a religious sentiment for these tribes they observe purity to reach
click to view the idol they worship
snake god is Auspicious and religious sign for hindu & tribes
These
Dravidian tribes have been in these forests for ages depend on forest resources and agriculture, breeding bees for honey and
wax and hunting. Main food is raw millet (chama) and roots and meat and of course liquor (which has been banned by Government
yet we can see secretly in some places); they normally after morning food rush to the forest for work and come back in the
evening. In normal occasions both men and women drink in evening and dance to celebrate. I requested them to dance so I could
video to show you which they neglected saying enough people arent to perform.
Their
women are equal in partnership with men. Both men and women work in equal terms. Women mainly I could see having (Pacha Kuthu)
tattoos on their foreheads of Irulan tribes, they do this in faith of protection from evil and gives more life. Aadivasi woman
name Valliamma a traditional doctor who treats Jaundice and blood cancer with forest herbs and roots acquired for same forest.
Many visit her and have become popular due to favorable results. They have the marriage system as we have also still prevails
the old tradition name Pennu Vilai (girl price) under this system bridegroom side people have to give assets to have their
girl as wife or if not rich the bride groom has to work in the brides house until the parents are satisfied to send girl with
him. In most the tribes in India; This good system of marriage prevailed in India since a long time until the aggression of
Aryans, they introduced the Dowry system where girls parents have to give against handing over their girl to boy or his parents
still followed by us. (So I feel tribes are socially rich)They are highly religious
and mainly do rituals for lord Shiva and Kali during shivaratri that is normally 1st or 2nd week of
February. After observing strict fast (to remain clean) go to malliswaran hill to light and come back to the temple for 3-4
days religious celebration during these days all sects of tribes from all places of the forest get together and perform different
versions of dances in from of deity (snake god of Lord Shiva). The attraction is so grate that villagers narrated these dances
as very colorful and enchanting.
-:How Government of Kerala can be of help to tribes:-
Increase income and employment:
Average earning per year is nearly Rs 4500 (US$ 100/-) which they get by selling honey, wax and forest roots. Some in deep
forests make more money by selling secretly illegal items from forest like kanjav (Hashish) krishi (cultivation). Many of them complained me that they do not get genuine price for their products say for honey they sell from
Rs 55/-(US$ 1.22) per kg without any brand but original stuff same is with wax and forest roots and seeds. Governments should
launch cooperative set up that would not only buy from them but will refine, give brand and pack before marketing, this would
not only help generating employment but will also give better price. Growers only work for money if they get from right source
they would not switch to illegal activity so proper attention to be given to rural agricultural research and development to
promote for use for right things.
This area is real place of tourism: Heavy industry is not a solution for populated Kerala. Natural resources and tourism
is best scope for generation of employment. Can develop as tourist spot in collaboration with private participation this would
generate more tourists. Government should take advantage of its rich resources. Despite Kerala Governments campaign of Gods
own state, tourism has failed to attract massive international tourists. We have to think as why? Instead of filling official
files and records in the offices we have to be more practical. Invite private sectors for boost. And locate the ways as how
to increase number of tourists so more employment through more hotels, income increased in handicraft/ textile producers,
increased shops for their shopping.
Population control: Make them understand the importance of population control. Still most of the tribes have more than 4 children.
That means proper guidance is still missing.
Education:Claim of
Kerala as 100% saksharta (education) fails when out of 1300 tribes only 3-4 are educated. So need more concentration in tribal
areas.
Up-lifting of tribes:I have visited many tribal areas
but unfortunately I did not find any social worker groups (understanding tribal activities) functioning. Is social work means
running blood, kidney, eye donation camps? Educating them in their own forest resources exploration, that could benefit the
world. If there is no power of tribal experience in forest resources, how could Tribal woman Valliamma be so famous for her
forest herb medicine in Chindeki (Mukkali)? This education would be much better
than present education or be included these as topic in academic education which would help them locate employment or self
employment.
Liquor Liquor Liquor: Banning liquor is a political propaganda and persecution to the nation. Most politicians do not know how
natural resources can be used for generation of employment in the state. Cheap liquors are consumed because good liquors are
very expensive which they can not afford. Liquor is not bad but addiction is bad. As I estimate 2/3rd
of population of developed countries consume liquor and especially common in developed countries ranging from 5-20%
alcohol. If were bad they would be the first to stop.
Nearly 60% of young educated
men and women are out of the state to earn for their living despite of state having rich natural resources. Is this not a
curse to Kerala? If they had employment in same state would have prepared to stay back..Politicians and administrators need to go beyond than banning liquor, banning this, banning that. How far these propagandas
been able to succeed?Rather have improved black marketing in the states.
A gift to beloved is the attraction for emotional touch.:- A gift represents your compassion and connection. A gift is an honor to respect a person.
Gifts signify presentation of your devotion for relationship. A gift that relates to liking indicates your intensity of involvement
to know his/ her taste. A gift has emotional value for attachment.(CLICK THE LINK FOR GIFTS YOU WANT FOR YOUR MOST BELOWED)
International Law (Survival International, 2009) Campaigns
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world’s benchmark when more governments agree to it. Put pressure on the UK
government to ratify ILO 169.
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