It was indeed a learning experience to spent a day to have some basic direct understanding of the process of marginalization and 'development' among the adivasi/tribal communities of the Attappady. I was in Attappady to conduct a workshop for the adivasi youth leaders and elected representatives of the panchayats on budget, TSP and local governance at Agali, jointly organised by Thampu and the ISDG.
What is known as Attappady is relatively a big region , as big as the Alapuzha district.
There are around 33500 Adivasies in the region adjoining the silent valley national park., in Palakkad district of Kerala. There are also number of rivers. However, the adivasi communities have been displaced from the natural and traditional habitat and also from their their livelihood over the last five decades. This is partly due to 'development' by the new settlers in the area who outnumber the tribal communities in many parts and also due to some government development projects, to 'develop' adivasies.
In fact, the biggest enterprise near Agali is a very popular Sehion meditation centre, which is fast becoming another centre like Potta.
And with the influx of new settlers from the 'Mainstream' over the last many decades, there also seems to be cumulative land alienation of tribal habitat.
There are around 33500 Adivasies in the region adjoining the silent valley national park., in Palakkad district of Kerala. There are also number of rivers. However, the adivasi communities have been displaced from the natural and traditional habitat and also from their their livelihood over the last five decades. This is partly due to 'development' by the new settlers in the area who outnumber the tribal communities in many parts and also due to some government development projects, to 'develop' adivasies.
In fact, the biggest enterprise near Agali is a very popular Sehion meditation centre, which is fast becoming another centre like Potta.
And with the influx of new settlers from the 'Mainstream' over the last many decades, there also seems to be cumulative land alienation of tribal habitat.
Here the settler communities from the mainstream represent almost all communities. Over the decades, many of the adivasi communities moved up the hills with less acess to water and also alienated from the traditional livelihood, based on minor forests produce.
We have visited a relatively new adivasi habitat(Poothu vazhi) that came up few years ago when these communities were displaced from their earlier habitat near AHADS , Agali.. There are three hundred households. Many of them have concrete houses funded through TSP and other government schemes, though there is no livelihood. The relief efforts by the government is visible here.There is also a community kitchen. They have been given land on the hillside, though they can't use the land as there is no access to water and hence remain barren land.
Here the mode 'of development' indicates more a politics and governance of of patronisation rather than development that is enabling, empowering and sustainable in the long run. As a result, the habitat that I visited reminded me of the old Laksham veedu colonies for dalit communities ( another form of gattoisation) . Without any means for sustainable livelihood, their food security depends on the community kitchen(which is a short term relief measure). Most of them work as agricultural daily wage labours in the farms of settler communities.
We have visited a relatively new adivasi habitat(Poothu vazhi) that came up few years ago when these communities were displaced from their earlier habitat near AHADS , Agali.. There are three hundred households. Many of them have concrete houses funded through TSP and other government schemes, though there is no livelihood. The relief efforts by the government is visible here.There is also a community kitchen. They have been given land on the hillside, though they can't use the land as there is no access to water and hence remain barren land.
Here the mode 'of development' indicates more a politics and governance of of patronisation rather than development that is enabling, empowering and sustainable in the long run. As a result, the habitat that I visited reminded me of the old Laksham veedu colonies for dalit communities ( another form of gattoisation) . Without any means for sustainable livelihood, their food security depends on the community kitchen(which is a short term relief measure). Most of them work as agricultural daily wage labours in the farms of settler communities.
There is a well designed government tribal mission hospital with in three km away from the hamlet. There are supposed to be 24 doctors there. I am told many of them are there to fulfill the criteria for getting admission for postgraduate degrees. My friends from Thampu, a grassroots civil society organisation of adivasies, tell me that there are no doctors for gynecology and pediatrics, particularly in the context of high rates of maternal and infant mortality among the adivasi communities.
However, there are also many good things happening. My friend Shaji KAgave many positive examples
There are more and more children from tribal communities completing 12 standard and joining college. There is a government college in Attappady. Last year seven children got admission in Sainik school due to the training efforts of one NGO. There are few engineers(with BTech) from the adivasi communities and one among them happened to be a young friend of mine. There is also a good school by a philanthropic activist, making a difference. I heard good things about Bethany Hospital by the Tribal Mission, a non-governmental charity initiative. I agree with Shaji that the best possible option in the long term is to invest in health, education and regeneration of environment.
Any mode of development become sustainable when people are empowered to claim their rights, choose the modes of livelihood and protect their habitat and environment.
I am told that there are some committed government officers such as the present sub collector and an officer from the Rural Development Ministry in Delhi who are trying to make a positive difference. And it is important to have organisations like Thampu that facilitates a process of dignity, empowerment and human rights among the tribal communities.
However, there are also many good things happening. My friend Shaji KAgave many positive examples
There are more and more children from tribal communities completing 12 standard and joining college. There is a government college in Attappady. Last year seven children got admission in Sainik school due to the training efforts of one NGO. There are few engineers(with BTech) from the adivasi communities and one among them happened to be a young friend of mine. There is also a good school by a philanthropic activist, making a difference. I heard good things about Bethany Hospital by the Tribal Mission, a non-governmental charity initiative. I agree with Shaji that the best possible option in the long term is to invest in health, education and regeneration of environment.
Any mode of development become sustainable when people are empowered to claim their rights, choose the modes of livelihood and protect their habitat and environment.
I am told that there are some committed government officers such as the present sub collector and an officer from the Rural Development Ministry in Delhi who are trying to make a positive difference. And it is important to have organisations like Thampu that facilitates a process of dignity, empowerment and human rights among the tribal communities.
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