health and housing facility of the tribes in...

245

CHAPTER 6

HEALTH AND HOUSING FACILITY OF

THE TRIBES IN KERALA

6.1 Introduction

The marginalized communities are infected and affected by the epidemics

and contagious diseases than the elites in the society. Poor people have often least

advantage and are therefore poorly placed to influence the ways in which states

allocates rights and resources within the society. This disadvantage encountered

by the poorer sections in influencing the public policy often results in states tilting

towards adopting pro-rich policy instruments. In majority of the third world

communities, the bargaining strength of the poor people is weak and inadequate to

influence the making of policies. Potentially, pro-poor policies provide a means of

redressing the imbalances by mobilizing resources from one part of the society to

another for the purpose of planned and strategic development1.

6.2 Health Profile in a Glance

Poverty is the prime cause for ill health, persistence morbidity and early

death. Lack of access to the right foods: iron, protein and micro-nutrients such as

iodine and vitamins, causes very high incidents of nutritional deficiency diseases

like anaemia, diarrhea, night blindness, goiter etc. These factors combined with

lack of access to basic health care services is the main reason for the marked gap

in health indicators between tribal areas and the more developed parts of the state.

In the tribal areas, the rate of maternal mortality, infant mortality, the crude death

rate, the mortality rate for under-fives etc are very high than the state average. Life

expectancy is lower and there has been a rapid deterioration of the sex ratio, but

both are comparatively better in Kerala state then the other states of India. Tribals

suffer from communicable diseases, disproportionately to their population. The

1 Craig Johnson and Daniel Start, Rights, Claims and Capture: Understanding the politics

of pro-poor policy, Working paper 145, London: Overseas Development Institute.

246

rate of incidents of tuberculosis, malaria, anaemia, sickle-cell anemia etc., among

the tribals is higher than the general population. The remote and physically

scattered population is a major constraint in the health care infrastructure of the

tribal areas. The highly dispersed nature of the tribal population and their regular

migration to different interior parts of the forest prevent the availability of

sufficient medical facilities in exact time. The primary healthcare centres (PHC)

and sub-centres have been located in the distances and the patients have to travel

kilometres for seeking treatment and that will not be practicable to approach

medical centres. So there is significant under utilization of such facilities by the

tribals. The tribals have an inborn habit to repel from the facilities, brought from

outside, and they always like to rely on their traditional methods2.

6.3 Tribal Treatment in the Past

In the past, the tribal people of Kerala suffered from a wide range of

diseases and maladies such as malaria, tuberculosis, small pox, pneumonia,

dysentery, worm infestation, eye infection and various skin complaints. In the

beginning of the 20th

century, in many tribal concentrated areas, there was a

devastating epidemic of cholera and influenza in many parts of India.

The tribal people sought their own devices to cure the diseases and

disorders in a range of ways. If diseases persisted for more than a day, or two, the

tribal people generally sought a cure from a plathi, or a ritual specialist. The plathi

had special skills in the use of various herbs, roots, trees or animal products in

healing, and they would perform rites as they both extracted the plant from the

forest and administered it to a patient. The herbal preparation was seen not merely

as a „natural‟ medicine for an illness located in the physical world, but a remedy

that possessed numinous qualities that might be endowed with benign power

through ritual. This kind of treatment was also used in the problems such as

cauterization of the site of pain, applied with a red-hot iron. The rationale for this

2 Roy Burman B.K., “Draft National Tribal Policy of 2006: Creating Consternation”,

Economic and Political Weekly, February 4, 2006, p. 420.

247

practice was that it drove away the malign spirit that was causing the problem,

because the spirits feared fire. The plathi also performed exorcism. It was assumed

that invisible forces or spirits pervaded the world, affecting the lives of the living.

The forces were Janus-faced being both benign and malign in differing

proportions.

Although the plathis were highly respected and had considerable influence

and power within their own societies, colonial officials, missionaries, and the

western educated Indian elites were invariably unsympathetic towards them and

their healing practices, which they characterized as being based on superstition

and a wrong understanding of diseases and disease causation. The missionaries,

often depicted them as „witch-doctors‟ or „wizards‟ and often described them as

their most difficult opponents3.

6.4 The Role of Missionaries in Tribal Health

The Protestant Missionaries found that they could win sympathy and

converts through medical work. They invested much energy and finance in

establishing dispensaries and hospitals. They were the first people to provide bio-

medical care for the tribals. Often the missionaries lacked any formal medical

qualification, and travelled around the tribal villages, providing basic remedies,

such as quinine for malaria, the cleaning and dressing of wounds, and eye-drops.

Despite being medically unqualified, they became known as „doctors‟ and they

quickly built up a flourishing medical practice4.

In some instances, the missions appointed foreign doctors and provided a

much wider range of treatment, including surgery. The skill and religious identity

brought them high reputation. The traditional tribal medicine man did not oppose

the missionaries when they provided everyday remedies for a range of minor

complaints, or even cured infectious diseases. In the case of a chronic malady for

3 Reetika Khera, “Starvation Deaths and „Primitive Tribal Groups‟ ”, Economic and

Political Weekly, March 1, 2008, p.44.

4 Annual Report (Church of the Brethren), March 31, 1907, pp. 10-11.

248

which the medicine of the missionaries was often less effective or took much

longer to work, the Plathis generally believed that the cure lay in propitiation or

exorcism, and that failure to act might expose their wider society to danger from

malign forces. In such situations, the plathi placed intense community pressure on

the afflicted person, normally forcing them to undergo the relevant rites5.

Before Indian independence, the colonial state and princely rulers provided

almost no biomedical facilities for tribal regions. The Government of independent

India sought to rectify this situation after 1947 through a programme of state

provided biomedical treatment in a network of primary health centres (PHC). In

India, in general, PHCs were chronically under-funded and failed to provide

adequate care for the mass of the Indian people6. The PHCs provide a very poor

level of care in most tribal areas7.

6.5 The Health Problems of the Tribes

Tribal health and treatment are closely related with the environment,

particularly the forest ecology. There exists a definite nexus between forests and

nutrition. It has been noted that tribals living in remote areas have a better overall

heath status and eat a more balanced diet than tribals living in less remote forest

free areas. They use magico-religious health care system and they wish to survive

and live in their own style8.

The introduction of strict forest laws, the hostile attitude of the forest guard

and the inaccessibility to the nutritious food from the forest, deprived the tribals

from their traditional diet and medicines and it paved the way for health, social

5 Reetika Khera, “Starvation Deaths and „Primitive Tribal Groups”, Economic and

Political Weekly, March 1, 2008, pp. 44-45.

6 Jeffery R., The Politics of Health in India, Berkeley: University of California Press,

1988, pp. 170-171.

7 Ashteker S, and Druv M., “Who cares? Rural Health Practitioner in Maharashtra”,

Economic and Political Weekly. 35, 5 and 6, p.449.

8 Nishi Dixit K., Tribes and Tribals, Struggle for survival, Delhi: Vista International

Publishing House, 2006, p.87.

249

and cultural consequences. In the recent periods, instances of deaths due to hunger

and malnutrition, reported from many tribal areas. The states of Kerala, Tamil

Nadu and West Bengal have the highest under nutrition. Maternal and childcare

are important aspects seeking behaviour which is largely neglected among the

tribal groups9.

The tribals have malnutrition, protein calorie malnutrition and

micronutrient deficiencies. Various kinds of goiter are endemic in some of the

tribal areas. Gastro intestinal disorders, especially dysentery and parasitic

infections are very common, leading to marked morbidity and malnutrition. In

many tribal areas malaria and tuberculosis still remain as a problem, while the

spectrum of viral and venereal diseases has not been studied in depth. Genetic

disorders are highly prevalent and it is mainly involved with red blood cells.

Different forms of thalassaemia, sickle cell anemia, glucose & phosphate

dehydrogenose etc., are common among the tribals. The early destruction of red

blood cells and overall anemia are caused by these diseases. Most of the tribals

have a strong desire for intoxicants. The availability of intoxicants in abundance

from the forest converted many tribals the addicts of such practices. Their slow

response to the progressive measures, to a great extent is due to that habit. The

presence of excess problems such as psychic disorders, the broken families, cases

of unmarried mothers etc are some of the consequences due to the addiction of

alcohol or other intoxicants. The non-tribals also used beverages and other

commercial liquors to exploit the tribals in the past and they snatched many things

from the tribals illegally, like land, ladies, forest produces etc10

.

6.5.1 The Maternal Mortality

Maternal malnutrition has been quite common among the tribal women.

This serious health problem is found excessively among the women having many

9 Ibid., pp. 86-87.

10 Ibid., p.88.

250

pregnancies, without sufficient intervals. The nutritional status of pregnant women

directly influences their reproductive performance and the birth is crucial to

infant‟s chances of survival and to its subsequent growth and development. The

insufficient breast feeding further affects the infant and the mortality rate is high in

their cases. There is the deficiency of calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, riboflavin

and animal protein and it adversely affect the total calorie and protein. The

incidence of goiter, angular stomatitis and vitamin deficiency diseases are

common among most of the tribals. The use of milk or milk products were taboo

among some tribals. So, calcium deficiency is highly possible among the tribal

children. The morbidity status of the tribal women revealed the prevalence of

respiratory complaints, gastro-intestinal diseases, and pyrexia and rheumatic

diseases11

.

The pregnancy imposed additional health needs on tribal women.

Physically, psychologically and socially, they needed special care during that

period. Poor nutritional status with its concomitant problems of under weight of

body, poor weight gain during pregnancy, low haemoglobin levels, deficiency of

iron, calcium etc causes excess maternal mortality in India. More maternal deaths

occurred in India in one week than in all of Europe in one year. The tribals use

their own traditional methods and measures during pregnancy and delivery.

Malnourishment, poor medical facilities and unfavourable social conditions were

the major underlying causes for high maternal mortality in India. Through the

follow up check up from the inception of pregnancy and the intake of vitamin

tablets, syrups etc., the rate of maternal and infant mortality can be checked

effectively. The continuation of crude birth practices is the chief cause for the ever

increasing tendency of mortality rate of mother as well as child12

.

11

Ibid., p.104.

12 Ibid., p.106.

251

Maternal and infant health care practices were largely neglected in various

tribal groups. Expectant mothers were not inoculated against tetanus. Some

pregnant tribal women deliberately reduce their food intake to avoid recurrent

vomiting and also to ensure easy delivery, through the ensuring of a small baby

with less body weight.

The regular use of alcohol during pregnancy has been existed among some

tribal women. Both rural and tribal illiterate mothers adopt harmful practice to

breast feed their babies, like discarding of colostrums, i.e. very essential for the

protection of the newly born child. Delayed beginning of breast feeding, giving

prelactral feeds and delayed introduction of complementary feeds are prevalent

among tribals. Periodical vaccination and immunization of infants and children are

inadequate among tribal groups13

.

6.5.2 The Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Most of the tribal communities of India considered adultery as a severe

offence. So they included strict rules to check the spread of immoral traffic. They

followed traditional rules and regulations to punish the culprits. But cases of

illegal sexual relations were many among them. Unlike the mainstream society, it

would be very difficult to diagnose the diseases and treat the patients belonging to

tribal community. Infections of the female genital tracts were numerous and

widespread. Inappropriate care or poor hygiene in connection with child birth,

abortion or menstruation etc., are the chief causes of infection. The sexually

transmitted diseases are also included in it. The continuation of sexual relations

with new persons caused its spreading to far and wide. They did not consult any

medical officer, at any stage of disease and it would even lead to infertility or at

last to death14

.

13

Ibid., p.107.

14 Ibid., p.109.

252

6.5.3 The Genetic Disorders

There are genetic disorders among tribals like any other community. But

some diseases like sickle cell anemia, glucose -6- phosphate enzyme deficiency

(G-6-PD) etc., are occurred in rather high frequency in tribes. Both male and

female are equally affected by these diseases.

6.5.4 Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle Cell Anemia is prevalent among the tribal communities of Kerala. In

Wayanad district it is common among the Paniyas and Kattunaikans and also

among the Wayanadan Chettis, a small agricultural caste group, classified among

other backward castes15

. This disease involved a shortened life span of the red cell

leading to severe and often fatal anemia. The disease was further characterized by

enlarged spleen, painful crisis, organ damage, impaired mental functions, and

increased susceptibility to infection and ultimately, the patients tended to have

shorter trunk with long legs, chronic leg ulcers and an overall asthenic built. There

were approximately a staggering 50 lakh individuals were carriers (heterozygote)

among the tribals. There is an observation that higher the access to social

development, the better the chances are for sickle cell patients to survive16

.

6.5.5 Glucose-6-Phosphate Enzyme Deficiency (G-6-PD)

It is an important enzyme of the red blood cell and its deficiency is

identified as an x-linked recessive trait. This enzyme deficiency caused frequent

hemolytic episodes by intake of commonly used drugs such as anti-malarials, anti-

biotics, analgesics etc., and also by the injection of broad bean17

.

For treatment of these diseases, they mostly resort to magical methods by

taking the help of the traditional medicine man of the village. They also use some

15

David Hardiman and Raje Gauri, “Practices of Healing in Tribal Gujarat”, Economic

and Political Weekly, November 8, 2008, p.25.

16 Feroz M and Aravindan K.P., “Sickle Cell in Wayanad, Kerala: Gene Frequencies and

Disease Characteristics”, National Medical Journal of India, 15, 5, 2001, p.267.

17 Nishi Dixit K., op. cit., p.109.

253

herbal preparations according to the advice of the medicine man for treatment of

certain diseases18

.

The infant mortality rate of the tribes is 120-150 and that is more than

double the mortality in the low performing centres of the plains due to low wages,

indebtedness, reduced consumption levels, disease etc., reflects the slow pace of

development process and they have largely by- passed the tribal progress19

.

6.6 The Health Profile of the Tribes in Kerala

The Health Services Department runs 63 primary health centres (PHC), in

the tribal areas. The Tribal Development Department has 4 midwifery centres, 17

Ayurveda dispensaries, 6 Allopathic dispensary/O.P. clinics, 1 Ayurveda Hospital,

2 mobile medical units and 1 Allopathic Hospital at Mananthavady. During 2007,

the Nalloornadu and Attappady hospitals under the Tribal Development

Department were transferred to the Department of Health Services (DHS) and now

functioning well. The primary health centres (PHC), Ayurveda dispensaries and

Homoeo dispensaries are functioning in tribal areas under tribal sub plan (TSP) of

the respective departments. The health department conducts medical camps in

tribal areas to diagnose diseases and serious diseases detected are transfered to

district hospitals and financial assistance given for treatment.

The studies conducted at tribal areas of Wayanad and Palakkad by the All

India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi and the State Health

Department shows that nearly 15 percent of the tribal families have been affected

by genetical problems and sickle cell anemia. The Medical College, Kozhikode

has set up a sickle cell anemia unit, to tackle the problem. Insurance coverage has

been provided to 500 families of Primitive Tribal Groups (PTG) for a period of 5

years beginning from 2004-05. The Primitive Tribal Groups of Koraga in

Kasargode district and Cholanaikan in Malapuram district are covered under the

18

Rajan Kumar Sahoo, Tribal Development in India, New Delhi: Mohit Publications,

2005, p 90.

19 Nishi Dixit K., op cit., p.155.

254

scheme. Government of India has sanctioned Rs.5 lakhs to the state for the

coverage of 1000 families during 2006-07. An amount of Rs.15 lakhs was also

sanctioned during 2007-08, for the insurance coverage of another 3000 families20

.

During 2008-09, an amount of Rs.256.70 lakh was expended by the Tribal

Development Department for Health programmes. An amount of Rs.306.70 lakh is

set apart for health programmes during 2008-09. During 2007-08 a new scheme

“Complete Health Care Programme for the Tribals” has been implemented by the

department utilizing Rs.10 crores received from government of India21

. During

2008-09, financial assistance was given to 7911 persons and the total expenditure

under this scheme was Rs.500lakh. An amount of Rs.500 lakh is provided during

2009-10 and the number of persons benefited as on 31-10-2009 is 6132.22

Table: 6.1 Details of Health Programmes (Rs. lakh)

Year Plan Non-plan

Outlay Expenditure Outlay Expenditure

2002-03 120.00 120.00 76.11 56.95

2003-04 229.56 119.42 68.81 66.02

2004-05 137.50 183.09 85.46 75.42

2005-06 120.00 106.90 91.33 85.50

2006-07 280.00 129.86 130.73 100.98

2007-08 1217.00 1201.62 148.76 115.98

2008-09 170.00 116.11 137.58 114.96

2009-10 75.01 53.63 148.71 75.50

Source: Economic Review (2009)

6.7 The Health Indicators: General Aspects

The Kerala state has a high position in the attainment of medical facilities.

The number of hospitals, availability of medical officers, nurses, para medical

staff, availability of modern treatment, advanced medicines, the presence of super

specialty hospitals etc. are good indicators in the developed health scenario of

20

Economic Review, Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala State Planning Board, 2007, pp.436-

437.

21 Economic Review, Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala State Planning Board, 2008, pp.381.

22 Economic Review, Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala State Planning Board, 2009, pp.363.

255

Kerala. But Kerala is in the second stage of health transition, a stage dominated by

life style diseases and chronic degenerative diseases surpassing communicable and

poverty reduced diseases. The tribals have many diseases, most probably

considered as the first stage of health hazards. Unfortunately, in the case of tribal

communities, there has not been any attempt to estimate the life expectancy of

each community. The chief constraint in that direction is the paucity of sufficient

document to prove their date of birth. In the case of educated tribals, the school

registers or certificates like SSLC is reliable to a great extent.

An alternative measure, popularly used is infant mortality rate (IMR). It is

considered as a significant and sensitive indicator of health status of a community.

The IMR reflects the effectiveness of interventions in health care provisions and

general standard of living of a population in a particular region. The IMR of

Kerala is reduced to 10 (female -12 and male - 9). But the IMR of tribals is still

high at 17.3 per 1000 births (female -19.77 and male-14.8)23

.

6.8 Disease Pattern of the Tribes

The incidents of poverty induced diseases are very rare among the general

population of Kerala. But instances of poverty induced diseases and even death

cases were reported from among the tribals. The disease pattern of the tribal

communities is very difficult to assess because they have little knowledge of

diseases and other health issues.

Table: 6.2 Disease Pattern as Reported by Tribal Communities

Sl.No Nature of Disease Number Percentage

1. Asthma and other respiratory diseases 48 21.8

2. Cardiovascular disease 40 18.2

3. Accident, injury, fracture 15 6.8

4. Arthritis 13 5.9

5. Kidney Diseases 10 4.5

6. Skin Diseases 9 4.1

23

Human Development Report of Tribal Communities in Kerala, United Nations

Development Programme (UNDP)/Planning Commission Project,

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala State Planning Board, 2009, p.90.

256

7. Eye ailment 5 2.3

8. Cancer 4 1.8

9. Contagious diseases 3 1.4

10. Others 73 33.21

Total 220 100.0

Source: UNDP Survey Data (2009)

Table 6.2 gives the UNDP Survey Data Report (2009) about the diseases‟

pattern of tribal communities. Asthma and other respiratory diseases dominate

among the disease pattern. The cardiovascular diseases occupy the next position.

In the absence of health professionals in the survey team, just chest pain and other

related issues might be included in the category of cardiovascular diseases. People

with other diseases have a majority with 33.21 percent and it includes the diseases

like sickle cell anemia. It is a reality that unlike the rest of Kerala, diseases in the

tribal regions are dominated by poverty induced rather than life style pattern

induced. It is found that 25.8 percent tribes in Wayanad and 21.8 percent in

Attappady are affected by sickle cell anemia, a rare hereditary disease24

.

6.9 The Morbidity Prevalence Rates

Kerala is witnessing a paradoxical phenomenon of low mortality and high

„morbidity‟ syndrome. According to one estimation, morbidity rate is 252 per

1000 population in urban areas and 239 per 1000 population in rural areas, which

is consistent with NSSO 60th

round estimates (Rural 255 and Urban 240 per 1000

population).

Table: 6.3 Morbidity Prevalence Rate (Per 1000 cases)

Community Morbidity Prevalence Rate

Kuruma 333

Kurichian 526

Kattunaikkan 290

Adiyan 467

Irula 457

Paniya 320

Mala Arayan 800

Muthuvans 467

24

Ibid., pp.90-92.

257

Urali 321

Total 433


Morbidity prevalence rate for tribal communities as a whole is 433 per

1000 population. The highest morbidity is reported among the Mala Arayans, 800

morbid cases per 1000 population. This could be due to over reporting. The Mala

Arayans are relatively better off and have less morbid cases. The literacy rate and

educational level of the Mala Arayans are far better than any other tribal

community. But there is an allegation that they have a tendency to exaggerate their

deprivation arose from the fear of exclusion from the list of Scheduled Tribes,

considering their relative advancement. Kattunaikans report least morbidity. This

could be due to their perception factors. Since they have less knowledge about

health and health care, the tendency to under report disease can be high in such a

population. Almost half of the tribal population suffers from any illness and their

morbidity prevalence rate is almost twice the general Kerala level25

.

6.10 The Behaviour of Health Seeking

The health seeking of each tribal community is different from one another.

They realized the effect and efficiency of modern medical system like Allopathy.

To one study, 72 percent of the tribal communities go to doctor for allopathic

treatment on the onset of any symptom of a disease and only 11 percent does it

when the disease gets worsened. Among the Kurichiya community, lesser number

goes to the doctor at the onset of any symptom of disease. They try over the

counter medicine (of medical shops) as an alternative. As a last resort, they go to

allopathic doctor. The backward communities like Kattunaikan and Uralies do not

consult a doctor on the onset of symptom of diseases. But unlike Kurichiyars, they

rarely try any alternate medicine.

25

Ibid., p.93.

258

Like general population, the tribal communities also at large prefer

allopathic medical treatment to any alternative system of medicine. Kurichiyans

least prefer allopathic system as they have active alternative health care system in

practice. Kattunaikan also practices own system of medicine. Miniscule proportion

of Kurichiyans and Mala Arayans depend on Ayurvedic medical system26

.

The tribal communities like Adiyan, Paniyan, Uralies and Irula mainly

depend on government hospitals. Muthuvans and Mala Arayans have belief on

private health care providers. Large percent of Kattunaikans often rely on private

hospitals like Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission, Muttil, Wayanad. The

hospital registered under trust provides free diagnostic and treatment services to

tribal people27

.

There is no possibility of cultural resistance towards seeking health care

from any modern health provisions. The problem of financial incapability is more

serious among the backward communities than the forward communities. More

than 90 percent among the backward communities suffer from financial

incapability but this is relatively less in forward community, i.e., 69 percent.

Among the Muthuvan community, financial incapability is a problem for all and

around 70 percent suffers from the problem of remoteness and they have the least

access to health care facilities28

.

Major Facilities Available for Medical Treatment

1. The tribal patients will get the treatment at free of cost, from all the

government hospitals and in the future also the existing condition will be

continued.

2. If any medicine is not available in the hospital, the superintendent will

make arrangements to buy it from outside.

26

Ibid., pp.96-97.

27 Ibid., p.98.

28 Ibid., pp.101-102.

259

3. He will take necessary steps for the medical tests/ laboratory tests, from

outside, if it is not available in the hospital.

4. He has to make arrangement to send the patient, in the specialty hospitals,

if he/she required better / special treatment for complicated situations.

5. Ambulance‟s expense will be given by hospital authorities in emergency

cases to reach the hospital and if surgery is required, ambulance will be

provided again to return the home.

6. In the above mentioned cases, the tribals will get a maximum of

Rs.10,000/- in each case for the expense of treatment, without considering

the income limit.

7. If the expense is above Rs.10,000/-, the tribes who are below poverty

line(BPL)will get the advantage of the project.

8. In the case of individuals, the hospital superintendent can grant a maximum

of Rs.10,000/- and the Hospital Development Council can give a maximum

of Rs.50,000/-.

9. To bring the tribes from their hamlets to the community / primary health

centres, if special treatment is required, he will be taken to district hospital /

Medical College, the vehicles of that institution can be used if the disease is

serious. The expense of fuel can be taken from the „fuel expense project‟,

and the hospital superintendent must attest the situation. The same facility

can be used to bring the patients from hospital to house after surgery. If the

patient died, the dead body can be taken to their houses in the hospital

vehicles.

10. If the government vehicle is not available, rental vehicle can be used with

the consent of hospital superintendent.

11. The bystander, who is in the hospital with the patient, will get Rs.50/- daily,

as allowance.

To get the benefit of the treatment project, the Scheduled Tribes must know

the following matters.

260

(a) Admit the patient in the nearby government hospital, i.e., community/primary

health centres, taluk hospital, district hospital etc., for the treatment.

(b) Health card will be issued to identify them.

(c) The tribes have to use the caste certificate, if they haven‟t ration card.

(d) In urgent situations, they can use „the statement‟ on caste issued by the Tribe

Development Project Officer / Tribal Development Officer / Tribal Extension

Officer, if they haven‟t ration card or caste certificates.

(e) They have to utilize the service of tribal promoters.

(f) If the treatment expense is more than Rs.10,000/- they have to submit income

certificate or documents to prove their category of below poverty line, in the

hospital, as early as possible29

.

6.11 Inaccessibility to Health Care Facility

Most of the tribal communities reside in distant places, away from the core

of the villages. The PHCs and community centres are normally found in the centre

of villages. Physical accessibility to health care provisions is very important to

seek that facility. In most cases, the inaccessibility to health care facilities is one of

the chief constraints in the tribal attitude to approach the health centres.

Table: 6.4 Distance to PHC/Hospital

0-1Km

(%)

1-2Km

(%)

2-3Km

(%)

3-5Km

(%)

5-10Km

(%)

10-20Km

(%)

>20Km

(%)

Kuruman 8 75 8 8

Kurichiyan 80 16 4

Kattunaikan 0 11 89

Adiya 55 9 36

Irular 48 52

Paniyar 30 19 16 20 14

Mala Arayar 65 35

Muthuvan 100

Urali 56 44


29

Booklet issued by Scheduled Tribes Development Department on free Treatment

Project, Government of Kerala , 2009-10.

261

Table 6.4 shows that Kattunaikan and Muthuvan are farthest from the

health care provisions, including the PHCs, CHCs etc. The Kattunaikan have to

cover a distance of more than 20 km to reach a PHC. Adiyas of Wayanad (36

percent) Irulas of Attappady (52 percent) and Muthuvan of Idukki (100 percent)

have to travel a distance of more than 10 km to reach a PHC.

Table: 6.5 Distance to Reach Government Specialty Hospitals

0-1km

(%)

1-2km

(%)

2-3km

(%)

3-5Km

(%)

5-10km

(%)

10-20km

(%)

>20km

(%)

Kuruman 83 17

Kurichiyan 2 15 2 12 69

Kattunaikan 100

Adiya 9 55 36

Irular 100

Paniyar 19 22 15 18 20 6

Mala Arayar 100

Muthuvan 100

Urali 100

Source: UNDP Survey data (2009)

Table 6.5 reveals the inaccessibility of the tribals to government speciality

hospitals. The Kattunaikan, one of the most backward tribal communities, have to

travel more than 20 kms to reach a speciality hospital and no one from that

community is living in the vicinity of speciality hospital. The Urali, Muthuvar,

Mala Arayar and Irular have to travel 10-20 kms to reach government speciality

hospital. The Kurumar (83 percent) and Adiyar (55.6 percent) were also

inaccessible to that facility. The Paniya community has much better privilege to

get the treatment from a government speciality hospital, because 95 percent of

them live within the distance circle of 10 kms30

.

The required number of health care centres is not present in the tribal

majority districts and the existing ones are not efficient in functioning. The tribal

regions are dominated by the private provisioning of health care. In terms of beds,

30

Human Development Report of Tribal Communities in Kerala, op. cit. pp.103-104.

262

doctors etc., private health care provisions outnumber government provisioning,

beneficial to the tribal communities.

Table: 6.6 Distributions of Hospitals in the Tribal Dominated Regions

Government hospitals Private hospitals

No. Beds Doctors No. Beds Doctors

Wayanad

Allopathy 3 374 40 122 1664 189

Ayurveda 3 170 9 63 17 67

Homoeopathy 1 25 3 52 0 57

Idukki

Allopathy 4 378 33 106 5721 429

Ayurveda 3 160 13 2 55 5


Attappady

Allopathy 1 42 4 5 118 8

Ayurveda 0 0 0 0 0 0


Source: UNDP project (2009)

The poor performance of government health care system is a clear evidence

of sidelining of government initiatives since the mid 1990‟s. In the state, the much

propagated slogan „good health at low cost‟ lost its old relevance. The revenue

expenditure on health sector had been more than 90 percent of the total

expenditure and capital expenditure forms a minuscule proportion of the total

expenditure which again is declining. The government spent more than 65 percent

of the total revenue on urban hospitals and teaching institutions and less than 20

percent is spent for rural health system, including medicine, in the year 1986. In

2002-03, it again declined to 2.91 percent. In urban sector also large scale decline

happened. In 1986-87, the expenditure was 21.37 percent but it reduced to 11.96

in 2002-0331

.

6.12 The Government Effort for Tribal Health

Even though many constraints exist in the tribal health care from the part

of public health sector, the Tribal Development Department has made specific

31

Ibid., p.116.

263

attempt to provide better health facilities over the years. Seven Ayurveda

dispensaries, one Ayurveda hospital, one Allopathic outpatient clinic, three

midwifery centres, two medical units etc., are working under the Tribal

Development Department. In Wayanad, a fully fledged Allopathic hospital

constructed as a part of the Mananthavady Health Project. Besides that, primary

health centres, Ayurvedic dispensaries and Homoeopathic dispensaries are

working under the tribal sub plan32

. The government provides financial assistance

to voluntary organizations engaged in health related services to Scheduled Tribes.

Routine medical camps conduct in tribal areas by the health department.

6.13 Major Causes for Ill Health

The tribal health can be improved by abandoning poor health practices and

ill health behaviour. The possibility of ill health is comparatively more in the

tribals than the other communities because the practice of alcohol consumption,

habit of smoking and chewing tobacco, poor source of drinking water, use of

firewood in cooking, unhygienic latrine practices, insecure dwelling places etc.,

enhances their burden of diseases. The use of tobacco is very common among

backward communities like Irular, Adiyar, Paniyar and Urali. The use of tobacco

is comparatively less among forward communities like Mala Arayar, Kurichiyar

and Kurumar.

The consumption of alcohol exerts multi-level impact among the tribal

communities. The money spend on alcohol reduces the consumption rates of the

family members. Alcohol adversely affects the health. It causes skirmishes in the

family, society etc. The peace of mind of women in the family losses and incidents

of violence and man handling occurs. The consumption of alcohol is high among

Irular and Paniya communities33

.

32

Ibid.

33 Ibid., pp.109-110.

264

Impure drinking water is a major reason for ill health among the tribals.

Even though their settlement is surrounded by natural water sources like streams,

brooks, springs etc., they are only seasonal and become dry in the summer period.

The forward communities like Mala Arayar and Kurichiyar uses water from wells.

The backward communities like Uraly, Adiyan, Paniya and Kattunaikan use public

well and other sources of water. They are compelled to use unhygienic and

contaminated water and the ultimate result is the spread of contagious and fatal

diseases like cholera, typhoid, jaundice etc.

Another chief cause of tribal ill-health is lack of hygienic latrines. There is

a misconception that, backward communities, especially tribes do not use proper

latrines and even if government provides it, their utilization of that will be

uncertain. But it is a fact that, most of the tribal communities do not have latrines.

Among Kattunaikans, around 80 percent did not have latrines. In the case of

forward tribal communities, only 37 percent have usable latrines. The government

allotted funds for the building of latrines, but the amount was insufficient to

complete the building of proper latrine. The non availability of water in the dry

seasons compelled them to abandon the plan of hygienic latrines and they prefer

open spaces near the available water source34

.

6.14 The Housing Facilities among the Tribes

In Kerala, a special scheme for providing land to the landless and home to

the homeless is being implemented. Tribal Development Mission has been formed

to undertake the rehabilitation activities based on a master plan for the

resettlement of landless. During the 10th

plan period, the Scheduled Tribe

Development Department provided assistance for the construction of more than

50000 houses. During 2006-07, 1111 houses were sanctioned to the primitive

tribal families under Additional Central Assistance and also under state plan Rs.2

crore was sanctioned for the construction of 250 houses. During 2007-08 Rs.200

34

Ibid., p.112.

265

lakh under general housing and Rs.100 lakh under Tribal Sub-plan (TSP) Corpus

fund were sanctioned and released for construction of new houses to the tribes35

.

Even though many plans and funds were announced and expended for the

tribal housing, still it is a problem among the tribals in the state, because a good

number of houses constructed 8 to 10 years back is in dilapidated condition and

demand for new houses are rising. At present the requirement of new houses is

more than 25,000. The Scheduled Tribe Development Department, TRDM, Rural

Development Department (IAY Scheme) and the local bodies are the major

agencies involved in the tribal housing project in the state. During 2006-07, the

state sanctioned Rs.90,000 for the construction of houses for the primitive tribal

families under the Additional Central Assistance and Rs.10 crore and 700 houses

completed as on 31-12-2008. During 2007-08 Rs.200 lakh under general housing

and Rs.100 lakh under tribal sub-plan (TSP) Corpus Fund were sanctioned for the

construction of 300 new houses. The number of houses completed including spill-

over during 2007-08 was 615. During 2008-09, Rs.4 crore was sanctioned for

undertaking construction of new houses and for the completion of spill over

houses36

.

Table: 6.7 Details of Housing Programmes undertaken by Tribal

Development Department (Rs. lakh)

Year Plan

Outlay Expenditure

2002-03 311.68 308.01

2003-04 211.68 188.11

2004-05 - -

2006-07 1227.19 1194.36

2007-08 300.00 296.98

2008-09 400.00 390.04

2009-10 500.00 196.06


35

Economic Review, 2007, op.cit. p.436.

36 Economic Review, 2008, op.cit. p.380.

266

Table 6.7 clearly shows the Government effort in providing housing

facilities to the tribal community. Majority of the tribal communities are living in

houses provided by the Government. The houses are either constructed by the

Government and handed over to tribes or constructed by utilizing financial

assistance given by the government under various schemes, to the tribal

community. The share of fund allocation increases every year reveals the truth that

even if the government have been providing houses to the tribals, still exists many

as homeless.

6.15 The Classification of Tribal Houses

The tribal houses can be divided into three categories, i.e.‟ semi pucca‟,

„kachcha‟ and „serviceable kuchcha‟. Around 83 percent of the tribal houses are

belonging to these categories. The houses with quality in nature are considered as

very good houses (pucca houses) and they are only 7.7 per cent. On the other

hand, very poor houses, (unserviceable kuchcha) accounted for only 9.3 percent.

Among the backward tribes, there are an increased percentage of unserviceable

kuchcha houses. Even though forward tribes occupy 65 percent of the pucca

houses, but the Irula tribes, one of the backward tribes have the highest percentage

(32.4 percent) of pucca houses among all tribes. These houses were constructed

by AHADS (Attappadi Hills Area Development Society) under its housing

scheme37

.

Most of the tribal houses are small and 52.2 percent of them are in the 200-

500 sq.ft category. Only 10 percent of the houses are more than 1000 sq.ft and that

in the 500-1000 sq.feet category more than half of the houses (59 per cent) are

possessed by Mala Arayans ad Kurichiya communities. The houses that are less

than 100 sq. feet are occupied by Paniya, Kattunaika and Urali and they constitute

37

Human Development Report of Tribal Communities in Kerala, op.cit. p.77.

267

45.83 percent, 20.83 percent and 4.17 percent respectively and all these three

communities are categorized as backward38

.

6.15.1 The Housing Facilities

In the case of housing facilities the Mala Arayans are far advanced to other

tribal communities. Most of the Mala Arayans have their own houses better than

other tribal communities and built with semi pucca or kuchcha materials. The

Mala Arayans have a good attitude to work and they work 13-20 days a month

with 30 percent work between 17-20 days. About 40 percent of the Mala Arayan

households do not have any source of employment. Their average monthly

household income is more than Rs.2350. They take bank loan chiefly for

agriculture purposes. There are instances of utilization of the availed bank loan for

the maintenance of houses. The main reason for their indebtedness is for meeting

daily household expenditure. The tribals often reluctant to pay back the loan they

have taken from banks39

.

The Kurichiyar tribal community is famous in the traditional history of

Kerala. In the Malabar region, they played a prominent role in the struggle of

Pazhassi Raja with guerilla warfare against the British. The Kurichiyar community

has achieved great progress in the housing facilities. Most of the Kurichiya houses

are built with semi pucca materials though Kachcha houses and pucca houses

together contribute, in almost equal numbers, to around 30 percent of the total

houses. The Kurichiya community has the range of income Rs.350-2350 and

majority of the households have a monthly income in the category of Rs.1350-

185040

.

Kattunaikar is considered as one of the most backward tribal communities

of Kerala. They live in very small houses that are less than 200 sqft and built with

38

Ibid., p.76.

39 Ibid., pp.67-68.

40 Ibid., p.58.

268

kuchcha and serviceable kuchcha materials. Their settlements in the interior part

of the forest delimit the availability of pucca materials for house construction.

They earn an average monthly income between Rs.1350-1850. Most of them did

not have bank accounts, and they could not take bank loans. Like other tribal

communities, the Kattunaikars are in debt mainly to meet their day to day

expenditure and they are at the mercy of local money lenders/shop keepers41

The Kuruma community has reasonably advanced houses, built with semi

pucca materials. They showed positive response to the Government programmes

for providing house. Their average monthly household income is between Rs.850-

2350. The agriculture oriented work is their principal source of employment.

NREGS provide a major source of employment. A minute number of Kuruma

employed in Government and private sector42

.

Most of the Adiyar community has houses provided by the Government.

These houses are built with semi pucca and kuchcha materials. But complete

pucca houses are absent. The serviceable or unserviceable kuchcha materials are

used for the construction of some houses. Most of the houses come within the

average area of 250-500 sqft range. NREGS supply employment opportunities to

many Adiyas. The Adiya households have the average income between Rs.850-

180043

.

The Irula community made tremendous progress in housing facility. They

used pucca, semi pucca and serviceable kuchcha materials for the construction of

their houses. Almost 30 percent of the houses were built with pucca materials. The

role played by AHADS (Attappady Housing and Development Society) to provide

housing facility to the Irula community needs special mention. The Irulas indulge

41

Ibid., pp.60-61.

42 Ibid., p.56.

43 Ibid., p.62.

269

in agrarian sector mainly as labourers and their average household income range

from Rs.350-235044

.

The Paniyar community has moderate houses with an average area between

200-500 sqft. Their houses are built with semi pucca materials and completed

under the government scheme. They earn an average monthly income of Rs.1350-

1850 range. They depend on non-agricultural labour for their livelihood.

Agricultural labour and NREGS are other chief sources of their employment. The

Paniyas have a less taste for hard work and they work for only less than 12 days in

a month. They depend on bank loan for construction of houses. They incurred debt

for meeting day to day expenditure and some households for education purposes45

.

The brief analysis of the housing facilities of some of the tribal

communities reveal the fact that only very limited number of tribal houses were

built with pucca materials. The stability and security of the houses could not be

ensured, because the houses are built with semi pucca, kuchcha, serviceable

kuchcha or unserviceable kuchcha materials.

6.15.2 The Sanitary Latrines

Most of the tribals live near or in the forest, so they did not feel the need of

sanitary latrines. They like to use the open spaces for that purpose, especially near

the water sources. The survey conducted by the UNDP/Planning Commission in

2009 in the tribal areas clearly revealed the paucity of proper latrines in the tribal

areas. In the tribal houses, less than 20 percent have proper sanitary latrines.

Especially among the backward tribal communities like Kattunaikar, Urali,

Muthuvar etc., most of them do not have sanitary latrines. In the Kattunaikan and

Urali houses, more than 75 per cent of the houses do not have sanitary latrines. In

the case of Muthuvar and Adiyar, around 60 percent of the houses do not have

sanitary latrines. In the case of Irular community, 59 percent have sanitary latrines

44

Ibid., pp.63-64.

45 Ibid., pp.65-66.

270

while 41 percent have no latrines. Most of the Irular houses are newly built by

Attappady Housing and Development Society (AHADS) and these houses

possessed sanitary latrines. On the other hand, the old houses of Irula did not

possess any useful latrines. It may be due to the proximity of Paniya settlement to

main stream society compared to other backward communities, and that may be an

impetus to imitiate main stream society. Even though the houses have sanitary

latrines, they do not have water connection in the latrines. Among the forward

tribal communities, 77 percent of the houses have proper sanitary latrines. The

Kurichiyas, one of the forward communities, more than 40 percent of the houses

have proper sanitary latrines46

.

6.16 The Occupation Pattern of the Tribes

The tribals of Kerala mainly engaged in different occupations related to

agriculture and works connected with that. The Primitive Tribal groups (PTG)

indulged in forest orientation occupations. A small percentage works in

Government services and another group in private firms.

Table: 6.8 Distributions of Main Workers (1991-2001)

Sl.No Category Total Scheduled Tribes

1991 2001 1991 2001

1 Main workers 28.53 25.87 40.28 30.17

2 Male Main Workers 44.82 41.77 51.11 40.66

3 Female Main Workers 12.81 10.85 29.42 19.90

4 % of cultivators to main workers 12.24 7.12 16.66 13.67

5 % of agricultural labourers to

main workers

25.54 12.40 55.47 41.12

6 % of main workers engaged in

household industry

2.58 3.35 0.47 2.57

7 % of main workers engaged in

other services

15.17 77.13 5.28 42.65

8 Marginal workers 2.90 6.43 5.76 16.18

9 Work participation rate 31.43 32.30 46.04 46.35


46

Ibid, pp.78-79.

271

The Table 6.8 shows that 30.17 percent of the tribal population is main

workers. The ratio of female workers belonging to the tribe is almost double than

that of other population. The decline of workers among tribal population was

marginal during the decade 2001 compared to 1991. The scheduled tribes have an

excessive dependence on agriculture (54.79 percent for their livelihood. Total

representation of tribal employees in government services as on 1.1.2008 was 1.73

percent of the tribes. The percentage of tribal government employees in gazetted

posts was 1.1 percent and that is less than their population percent47

.

Table: 6.9 Details of Tribal Employees in Government Service as on 1.1.2006,

1.1.2007, 1.1.2008 & 1.1.2009

Category 2006 2007 2008 2009

Total ST Total ST Total ST Total ST

1. Gazatted 32894 303 33272 322 29692 322 14287 194

2. Non-gazatted 251085 3617 247026 3783 206125 3465 59080 1515

3. Last grade 37868 822 38722 721 33073 854 12898 370

Total 321847 4742 319020 4826 268890 4641 86265 2079


Table 6.9 clearly reveals that in the gazetted officer rank, the number of

tribes has been less than 1 percent till 2007. But in the year 2008 the percentage

increased to 1.08 percent and in 2009 it was 1.36 percent. In the non-gazatted

category, the share of scheduled tribes is less than 2 percent in the years 2006

(1.44 percent), 2007 (1.53 percent) and 2008 (1.68 percent). In 2009, a small

percent increase is found, i.e., 2.56. In the category of last grade also the scheduled

tribe‟s share is not hopeful. In the years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, the percent of

scheduled tribes in last grade category was 2.17, 1.86, 2.58 and 2.87 respectively.

6.17 Major Sources of Employment

The agricultural labour and employment guarantee schemes dominate the

major sources of employment of the tribals. Most of the tribal population in Kerala

is wage labourers, agriculture labourers or farmers. Some of the most backward

communities like Adiya, Paniya and other tribal communities indulge in paddy

47

Economic Review, 2009, op.cit. pp. 354-355.

272

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Kuruma Kurichiya Malayaraya

A-Land and related

B-Employ ment guarantee

schemesC-Non agricultural labourers

D-Gov t. or semi-gov t. job

E-Pv t. Sector job

F-Small v endor

G-Agricultural labour

H-None

cultivation. With the disappearance of paddy cultivation and paddy fields new

crops emerged in their places like cardamom, pepper, ginger, coffee etc. The

excess dependence on agriculture is mainly due to the low educational standards.

In the absence of alternative economic activities, they are compelled to depend on

agriculture oriented occupations. Among the backward tribal communities, the

options of employment is limited and confined to agricultural labour and

nonagricultural labour.

Figure: 6.1 Main Source of Employment among Forward Tribes


The forward tribal communities possessed increased share of land holdings

and it helped them to engage in land related employment. The employment in the

government and private sector is dominated by the forward communities. The

backward tribal communities like Kattunaika and Cholanaika did not have any

share in those employment classifications. The Mala Arayan community has the

largest share of representation in the government/semi government sector jobs.

273

They occupy almost double the number of government/semi government jobs

occupied by other forward tribal communities, Kurichiya and Kuruma48

.

If we take the category as one month or 30 days to understand the response

to work, the Paniya community have least number of days work in a month, i.e.,

less than 8 days. Most of the tribal communities work for an average of 9-16 days

a month. Malayarayan community worked 17 days and above in a month because

they are engaged in regular nature of jobs. The backward communities are

engaged in irregular employment and that causes the fluctuation in their work

participation49

. The tribals have very little knowledge about the dates, days,

months, year, time etc., and it makes the task very difficult to calculate the

income, expenditure and the number of days worked. The estimation of average

monthly income and monthly expenditure for household functions by the tribals is

a Herculean task. The forward tribal communities having basic education can

provide enough ideas regarding their day-to-day affairs.

The livelihood strategies of tribal people varies from gathering, forest

produces collection, livestock rearing and shifting cultivation to advanced

agriculture. The livelihoods of tribal people in the settlements of the forest are

mainly wage labour supplemented by agriculture and non-wood forest produce

(NWFP) collection. The Kurichiyar and Adiyar tribes are primarily of

agriculturists. The livelihoods of tribal people in the settlements of the southern

part of Western Ghats of Kerala are mainly agriculture, wage labour and NWFP

collection. They supplement their income through tapioca cultivation. They got

additional income through wage labour. For the collection of NWFP and firewood,

they depend on forest. The chief occupations of the tribal communities living

along the fringes of the reserve forests on the northern side of Kerala are wage

48

Human Development Report of Tribal Communities in Kerala, 2009, op.cit. p. 81.

49 Ibid., p.82.

274

labour, cattle keeping and agriculture. A minute section of them engaged as sole

traders50

.

Table: 6.10 Dependence of Tribals on Forest

Tribe Main Livelihood Extent of forest dependence

1. Mannan Agriculture, Fishing Medium

2. Paliyan Agriculture, NWFP Medium

3. Urali Agriculture, NWFP Low

4. Ulladan Gathering , NWFP Medium Wage labours

5. Mala Pandaram Gathering ,NWFP Low

6. Mala Arayar Agriculture Low

7. Kani Rubber, Wage labour etc (High) Heavy land use

Source: State planning Board Field work Data, (2006)

On the Southern side of Kerala, along the fringes of the Western Ghat

forests, the main subsistence means of the communities are agriculture (rubber,

coconut, tapioca etc.), sole trading concerns, wage labour, collection of NWFP,

and a few white collar jobs. The tribal dependence on forest is minimal on the

southern side of the state. Unlike the condition of Tamil Nadu, the grazing

pressure is minimal in and along the Reserve Forests. The chief dependence on

forest is mainly for the collection of NWFP and firewood, both for domestic

consumption and for earning income.

6.18 The Status of Tribal Women in Kerala

In the independent India, plans were announced for the marginalized

communities, especially for the tribal communities. The Five Year plans allotted

funds for the educational progress of the tribals. It paid special care for the

education of girls. The percentage of progress in education of both boys and girls

are not satisfactory. The tribals are the least literate people in India and the literacy

rate of tribal women is further sympathetic.

50

Report of the Research Group on Special Components Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub plan

(TSP), Thiruvananthapuram: State Planning Board, 2008, p.28.

275

Tribal women, face challenges from the rest of the society and fall prey to

various levels of oppression because they are the most vulnerable section of the

society. The tribals have no division of labour on the basis of sex. Women are

doing almost all the works in traditional agriculture along with ritualistic practices.

In their community, the tribal women have some specific role in cultural

performances. They have individual as well as common role in the performances

of tribal dance. But in Koothu51

, women have no specific role. In tribal

communities, there are many healers of various diseases. The tribal men have very

high proficiency to identify various herbs and they have the ability to specify their

botanical species and their medicinal values. The tribal women also have

knowledge about the medicinal plants and its treatment value. Among tribals the

land ownership is with male members and change of ownership of land titles is not

frequent. The tribal women have to carry the burden of subsistence of the family.

In the off-seasons, they have to struggle for the food stuffs that are not easily

available from the forests. Then they have to engage in wage labour, but there they

get only low wages compared to men and it is a result of gender discrimination.

The women have least opportunity to acquire specialized skills in labour and they

are forced to render menial service52

.

Tribal women play an important role in family, because it is the basic social

unit of economic participation. They play an inevitable role in domestic, economic

and cultural pursuits of the family. Ordinary tribal women have to perform

different duties like fetching water, collecting firewood, gathering and foraging

items like tubers, shoots, leaves, nuts etc., attending to plot clearance, firing the

bushes, sowing, weeding, harvesting, threshing etc in agricultural operations53

.

Women have integral role in rearing, cooking, cleaning and washing at domestic

51

A theatre art form of the tribals.

52 Human Development Report of Tribal Communities in Kerala, 2009, op.cit. p. 156.

53 Nishi Dixit K., Tribes and Tribals, Struggle for survival, op.cit., p.153.

276

level. The higher level of economic participation in the daily life deemed the

women as economic asset of the family. But the prevalence of polygamy and

broken families among some tribal communities, adversely affects the goodwill

and welfare of the women folk.

The tribal women are found very busy and they work hard continuously

through out the day for the well being of their family. Besides agrarian works, they

have to carry the food for the male members working in the field. Collection of

minor forest produces is another main job of the women. Sometimes the women

carry the produces to the week end markets for sale54

.

In the case of marriage, both adult and child marriages are allowed although

the practice of adult marriage is more common than the child marriage. Pre-

marital relation is not a serious offence in some tribal societies, but some societies

consider it as a serious offence and take severe action against the indulgers.

Adultery is always an unforgivable event among majority of the tribes. In the case

of premarital pregnancy or abortion, the person who is responsible for the

pregnancy has to marry the girl in normal instances. In many tribal societies,

polygamy is normally allowed, but polyandry is not generally accepted. The

remarriages of widows or divorcees is permitted and in such cases the first

preference will be given to the younger brother-in-low of the deceased husband.

She can try for an outsider if he does not agree. She has no right over the property

or articles of the deceased husband‟s house55

.

In Kerala, the tremendous inflow of migration to the nearby areas of tribal

settlements altered many traditional customs and practices inborn and unique to

that community. The younger generations like to exhibit the life style patterns

almost similar to the non-tribe settlers. The media, both electronic and print, exerts

high pressure on the tribal life styles. The dowry replaced bride price and the

54

Rajan Kumar Sahoo, Tribal Development in India, op.cit., p.95.

55 Ibid., p.95.

277

degeneration of the status of women is results of the new trends in the tribal

society. The number of desertions and divorces increased in the tribal families56

.

Divorce among tribals is treated as normal process in strained relations.

Remarriage of both women and men is allowed and encouraged. The widowhood

is accepted as a ritualistic process and among many tribals the wife has to put her

manjacharadu57

on the dead body of her husband at the time of the burial. The

instances of tribal women often getting attracted to the non-tribal men and mix up

with men of other communities, and it is the result of the changed social sphere. In

such relationships, the majority of men live in the hamlets of women and utilizing

the facilities available to them as tribals and in most cases, it ends up in sexual

exploitation and desertion of women and children. In many cases, the absence of

legal marriage remained as a hurdle to the women and their children, to get the

deserving justice. The only way to get some relief is to approach the family court

to establish the parentage of the child and that is possible only through the DNA

Test, but has to get permission from the person concerned and it will not be easy.

If he approaches the court to avoid DNA examination, the test cannot be

conducted without the consent of the court. The legal deadlocks make the

procedures of the agencies like Kerala State Commission for Women, very

difficult and the tribal women did not get the justice they deserved. Besides, the

tribal women are ignorant of the various facilities or organs functioning for their

welfare and well being. The children born out of these relationships also face

problems because, even though they belong to the tribal community, they are not

entitled to get any rights. To get the rights preserved and deserved for them, they

have to establish that they belong to the tribal tradition.58

.

56

Nishi Dixit K., op.cit., p.19.

57 The yellow string is a token that the married woman wears and it is known as „Thali‟

among the Hindus.

58 Human Development Report of Tribal Communities in Kerala, op.cit. p. 157.

278

6.19 The Impact of Consumerism

Like any other society, the tribals of Kerala are under the growing influence

of globalization and consumerism. The world products intrude even in the nook

and corner of Kerala and the tribals can not be abstained from its impact. The

conflicting forces of tradition and modernity, vigorously dragging the every day

life of tribal women in the direction of change. The distribution of television and

other means of communication play an important role in designing their social

visions and attitude towards life. The availability of various items needed in every

day life, in the country sides and even in the distant peripheral zones familiarizes

the products to the tribals and its moderate prices encourage them to buy and make

it a part of their lives. The most ubiquitous commodities attract the tribal women

are domestic furniture, utensils, colourful dresses, cosmetics, ornaments etc. The

chief prone to consumerist tendencies are women than men. The thirst for gold

ornament is severe among tribal women and it changed the traditional pattern of

tribal marriage. Earlier bride price (Pariyappanam) 60 had been given by the

bridegroom at the time of marriage. In the place of bride price, dowry crept into

the tribal society and the position of women has been deteriorated by that.

In most of the tribal communities, the new developmental experiences

taught the tribal women the basic lessons of financial management and the habit of

savings. The changed life style compelled them to save money for various

purposes like travelling, educational needs, hospital needs, household items,

celebrations and for every tune of life. In Attappady region, the tribal women

acquired the capacity to handle issues and implement projects truthfully. The

AHADS (Attappady Housing and Development Scheme) has given large sums of

money to the tribal women, as a part of the implementation of some projects. They

proved their efficiency by handling lakhs of rupees without corruption,

misappropriation or extravagance. In the meetings of the implementing bodies, the

279

tribal women answered queries without hesitation and proved the transparency of

the process59

.

6.20 The Education of Tribal Women

During the implementation of development projects the tribals are placed at

the receiving end. Lack of information and improper participation acts as a

deadlock and it creates problems for the proper implementation of programmes for

the social, cultural, physical and educational progress of the tribals. The progress

of any community is depending upon the rate of growth of their educational

progress. The emancipation of tribal women to a great extent depends upon the

utilization of opportunity for education. Unfortunately, the tribals are the most

illiterate community in Kerala. Even though education is not denied to the girl

child, the female illiteracy is very acute among the tribals. The opportunity for

girl‟s education is adversely affected by lack or scarcity of hostel facilities.

Marriage at an early age further limits the scope of education of girl child. Above

all these constraints, the number of girls in the professional colleges, arts and

science colleges and higher secondary schools is greater than their male counter

parts. It is difficult to get suitable spouses for the educated girls, with equal

qualification. So the number of options is very limited for the well qualified

women.

In recent years, the number of tribal girls getting admission in professional

colleges has been enhanced. But it is very rare that the girl students go for diploma

and certificate courses. The lack of proper awareness of parents and insufficient

orientation and guidance from within the family can be solved by the guidance and

advice given by the teachers for the selection of higher education courses. In the

higher education courses, cases of drop out are very high. The absence of

education facilities after higher secondary level is a reality and the state

government has to take sufficient measures to solve that.

59

Ibid., p.158.

280

Most of the tribal communities have their own dialect and they use those

languages, but which do not have any script. The medium of instruction denies the

tribal students the opportunity to understand and acquire knowledge in their own

language. The teachers who get appointment in the tribal majority schools are

unfamiliar with the tribal dialects. The non tribes have the privilege to learn things

in their mother tongue, but that privilege is denied to the tribals. The acquisition of

knowledge in an alien language creates a lot of learning problems among the tribal

children. The syllabus they study is not related with their home, culture and

community. Their ideas and concepts regarding the known things are closely

connected with their language and the transplantation of information to a new

language naturally creates unfamiliarity and discontent to the learning process. In

the schools, they cannot compete with the non-tribe students, because they are

proficient and fluent in the learning process due to their influence in the medium

of instruction, i.e., their mother tongue. It creates a low self esteem among the

tribal students and it will create a feeling of inferiority among them. All these

discomforts will fume together and force them to leave the school or to survive

with wounded feelings. The Curriculum Network Committee Report (2005) and

other education committees in India recommended education in mother tongue, at

least in the primary classes. In Kerala, those recommendations are not yet

implemented especially in the tribal areas.

Table: 6.11 Details of Tribal Students in the Arts and Science Colleges in

Kerala during 2008-2009.

Name of the courses Number of students

Scheduled Tribes Total

Boys Girls Boys Girls

1. M.Phil / BLISc 0 0 6 11

2. M.A Music 0 1 4 37

3. M.A 40 85 1069 4714

4. M.Sc 17 31 808 5220

5. M.Com 10 29 541 1680

6. M.S.W 0 0 4 56

7. M.C.J 1 0 20 5

281

8. M.T.A 1 1 36 22

9. B.B.A 40 36 1252 1392

10. B.C.A 9 6 448 639

11. B.P.E, Certificate Course 5 3 75 50

12. B.P.Ed., One year degree course 0 0 21 8

13. B.V.M.C 0 0 65 63

14. B.A 530 694 20486 46857

15. B.A, Music 2 1 41 169

16. B.A, Dance 0 0 0 21

17. B.Sc 228 299 17515 43553

18. B. Com 197 201 9977 13921

19. O.R&C.A 0 0 3 3

20. F.S.M.D 0 0 0 15

21. B.T & S.P 0 0 16 30

22. C.M.& Electronics 0 0 57 34

23. B.A, Music, Music Colleges 0 3 220 328

24. M.A Music, Music Colleges 0 0 29 72

25. B.F.A, Music 0 0 107 26

26. M.F.A, Music 0 0 38 11

27. B.Ed. 7 29 450 2867

28. M.Ed. 0 1 45 179

29. P.G. Diploma in Therapeutic Counseling 0 0 2 2

30.P.G. Diploma in Home Science 0 0 0 12

31. Preliminary Afsal – Ul- Ulama in Arabic 1 2 171 452

32. B.A Afsal – Ul- Ulama in Arabic 0 1 238 476

33. MA Post Afsal – Ul- Ulama in Arabic 0 0 30 93

34. Ph. D 0 0 32 72

Total 1088 1423 53843 123103


Table 6.11 clearly reveals the domination of women over men in the field

of education. The total number of tribal boys in the higher education courses, in

the academic year, 2008-09 was 1088, but of the girls it was 1423. Unfortunately

for many courses, the representation of tribals has been zero.

6.21 The Tribal Women and Health

Tribal health was not a matter of discussion before some decades. They

were self sufficient in medical treatment, because they have very good knowledge

about 50 species of edible green leaves which were included in their daily diet.

282

They also used to consume various kinds of millets other than ragi. In the modern

period, traditional food habits are changed and the new generation has very little

knowledge about the plants which have medicinal value. The excess dependence

on modern medicines like Allopathy, Ayurveda and Homoeopathy adversely

affected their traditional health practices. Their dependence on the free supply of

rice through the public distribution system (PDS) has limited their food to rice and

some vegetables. Traditional farming system also reduced to minimum quantity.

The tribals have an inborn addiction to alcoholic drinks and other intoxicants. The

tribal men, women and children did not consider the alcoholic consumption as a

bad habit and they serve intoxicants to their kiths and kins during every special

occasion. The tribals have liver complaints and other diseases related to the

consumption of alcohol. In Kerala, infant mortality rate is little higher among the

tribals than the Kerala average.

Table: 6.12 Basic Health Indicators, Kerala and India 2008-2009.

Sl.No Health Indicators Kerala India

1 Birth Rate („000 population) 14.7 23.1

2 Death rate („000 population) 6.8 7.4

3 Infant mortality rate ( `` ``) 13 55

4 Child mortality rate ( `` ``) 3 17

5 Maternal mortality rate (per lakh live birth) 110 301

6 Total fertility rate (children per women) 1.7 2.9

7 Couple protection rate (in percent) 48.28 46.6

8 Life at birth (Male) 71.3 62.3

Life at birth (Female) 76.3 63.9

Total 73.8 63.1


The tribals of Kerala have least infertility problems in the past. In the recent

periods, some cases of infertility have been reported. Cases of abortion and

disabilities to the infants are reported from the tribals. In Wayanad district, sickle

cell anemia is found widely among the tribals. It is a genetic disorder which

increases vulnerability to all other diseases. There is a slight increase in the infant

283

body weight for the past few years, indicating better food consumption of pregnant

women60

.

6.22 The Kudumbasree and Women Empowerment

The government of Kerala has launched the Kudumbasree projects for the

alleviation of poverty and empowerment of women. The formation of micro

finance units in the rural and urban areas helped the strengthening of women, not

only in family but in the society also. The Kudumbasree programme did not create

much impact on the tribal society, because it lacked tribal orientation. The tribals

have their own conventional power structure and the tribal women have limited

scope to break and surpass the existing system. The Kudumbasree programme did

not succeed in enabling the tribal women folk to enter and handle the programme.

Tribal women have unique socio-economic identity and uniform habitat which are

the most favourable conditions for the neighbourhood group formations. In

Attappady area, the AHADS had conducted field training and awareness

programmes and also given training in accounting systems. AHADS has been

playing a significant role to incorporate the tribal women and its effort received

acceptance among the tribals. In the Attappady region, around 400 groups among

the tribals are identified and prepare to function as Kudumbasree units. At the

same time, the banks and panchayaths have a negative attitude towards the tribal

groups61

.

6.23 Major Programmes for Women Empowerment

a) Swarnajayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)

The Swarnajayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana aimed to establish a large

number of micro enterprises in the rural areas to enhance the potential of the rural

poor. It is a programme for a group of people and it covered all aspects of self-

employment viz. formation of self help groups (SHG), capacity building, planning

60

Economic Review, 2009, op.cit., pp.355-356.

61 Ibid.

284

activity, clusters and infrastructure build up, technology credit and marketing. It

provides training courses on skill development62

. It gives priority to the backward

communities like tribes and funds allocated for women, disabled etc.

Table: 6.13 Physical Achievements of SGSY during 2007-08, 2008-09 & up

to November, 2009.

Year Self Help Group (No. of members Covered)

Total SC ST Women Disabled

2007-08 22955 8476 1099 17967 472

2008-09 28448 10740 984 21966 407

2009-10 20605 7608 541 17335 230

Total 72008 26824 2624 57268 1109


Table: 6.14 Numbers of Individual Swarosgaris during 2007-2009

Year No. of individual swarosgaris

Total SC ST Women Disabled

2007-08 6764 5221 474 3102 796

2008-09 7474 5839 474 3789 755

2009-10

(Nov. 09)

3475 2754 194 1766 290

Total 17713 13814 1142 8657 1841


b) Indira Awaz Yojana (IAY)

Even after six decades of Indian independence, the dream of 100 percent

houses for all families is not yet fulfilled. Indira Awaz Yojana aimed the

construction of dwelling units to the tribes for freed bonded labourers. IAY is a

centrally sponsored scheme sharing cost between centre and state in the ratio

75:25. The central share is released directly to the district rural development

agencies. The Grama Sabha selects the beneficiaries of the scheme. The

beneficiaries should have at least 2 cents of land for construction of house. During

the time of application, they should not have dwelling units fit for occupation. The

assistance is sanctioned to the female members of the family or in the joint name

of husband and wife. The minimum plinth area prescribed for the houses

62

Ibid., p.357.

285

constructed under this scheme is 20sq.mts. But no plan or design is prescribed for

the houses63

.

Table: 6.15 Physical achievements of Indira Awaz Yojana during 2007-Nov.

2009, (Rs. in lakh)

Year New Houses (Nos.) Up gradation (Nos.)

SC ST Others Total SC ST Others Total

2007-08 14429 1311 11102 26842 5265 496 3839 9600

2008-09 19209 1963 14320 35492 8145 485 6383 15013

2009-10

(Nov. 09)

8370 1025 8373 17768 2925 133 2013 5089

Total 42008 4299 33795 80102 16335 1114 12253 29702


c) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme in

Kerala

The NREGP help to activate and empower the Panchayat Raj institutions

including Grama Panchayat and Grama Sabha. It gives the scope for meaningful

employment generation resulting in reduction of poverty in rural areas. This

scheme was introduced in September 2005 by the Government of India. The Act

provides for the enhancement of livelihood security of the households in rural

areas of India by providing at least one hundred days guaranteed wage

employment in every financial year to every house hold whose adult members

volunteer to do unskilled manual work. It aims at developing rural infrastructure

by undertaking generation of wage employment schemes that address the causes

like drought, deforestation and soil erosion. The scheme was renamed as Mahatma

Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme since October 2nd

200964

.

The applicant has the right to obtain employment within a radius of 5 kms

in the village where the applicant resides at the time of applying. If the applicant

gets employment outside the radius of 5 kms, it must be provided within the block,

63

Ibid.

64 Ibid., p.358.

286

the labourer has the right to get 10 percent of the wage rate as extra wages to meet

additional transportation and living expenses. The person with age not less than 18

years shall not be registered in the Grama Panchayat, where he/she is residing and

they should be ready to do unskilled manual work. The entitled 100 days of

employment to the household can be shared with the available persons in the

family having valid registration for unskilled manual work under the scheme. The

Grama Panchayat is responsible to provide wage employment to the applicant

within 15 days on any on going work or by starting a new work, if the Grama

Panchayat does not allot the employment within 15 days, the Block Programme

Officer will allot employment to the persons concerned and will be entrusted to

the Grama panchayat concerned. If the employment is not provided within 15

days, daily unemployment allowance, in cash has to be paid. The state has the

liability of payment of unemployment allowance. In the implementation of

NREGS, Kerala has some constraints. Some of the chief constraints are:

(a) NREGS work is to be carried out in public land, which is scarce in

Kerala.

(b) The types of work that can be taken up in coastal areas are limited.

(c) Limitation in taking up NREGS work in plantation.

(d) Difficulty in devising a procurement system which is transparent and

corruption free.

(e) The tribal participation is comparatively low in the scheme and it is

only 1.5 percent of population but it is almost 8 percent in the general

category65

.

In the financial year 2007-08, the total fund availed for NREGS in Kerala

was Rs.9900.66 lakhs and the expended amount was Rs.8333.83 lakhs (84

percent). In 2008-09, the total fund availed was Rs.29827.50 lakhs and the

expenditure was Rs.22440.92 lakhs (75 percent). In the period January 2009-

65

Ibid.

287

November 2009, the availed fund was Rs.33786.40 lakhs and the expended

amount was Rs.16134.66 lakhs (48 percent). Kerala got praise from the central

government for implementation of the scheme without corruption, but the total

amount received by the state and average number of days of employment provided

to those who reported for work are less compared to other states66

. The scheme has

given a lot of responsibilities to women in running the scheme and paying the

wages to all the workers through their bank account. Even though in many

Panchayats, in Wayanad and Palakkad districts, average expenditure as wages is

over 2 crores but the participation of tribal women is not satisfactory under this

scheme.

The above discussed factors clearly revealed that the Kerala women

progressed a lot and they are on the road to self-reliance and self-sufficiency. But

the tribal women are far behind others in this matter. Their isolated settlements

hinder their access to the main stream society. The existing social structure give

very limited freedom to tribal women to indulge in that business, come out from

outside. Besides, their illiteracy, ignorance and disinterest remain as hurdles in

front of their scope for progress. More awakening is required and encouragement

can be given by providing incentives through orientation programmes, workshops,

seminars etc.

6.24 The Tribal Health in Pathanamthitta District

In Pathanamthitta district, the progress of general health is almost equal to

the developed nations of the world. The control of contagious diseases, the

prevention of epidemics, cent percent achievement in the pulse polio

immunization programme, high rate of birth control, low rate of death, the

presence of specialty hospitals, the awareness of health among the people etc., are

only some of the achievements of the district in the sphere of health.

66

Ibid.

288

The condition of health among the tribes is not in par with the general

health. The health hazards in the tribal areas increase at a higher rate. The tribals

are famous for their health and traditional medicines in the past. The herbal

medicines used by the tribes from time immemorial were better curatives for many

diseases, poisons etc. The life in the midst of nature and their dietary habit linked

with the roots, fruits, nuts, leaves and the fish and meat they availed from their

surroundings and the natural freshness of the forest made them healthy with high

life expectancy.

In Pathanamthitta district, 85 percent tribals depend on government health

institutions for treatment. About 14 percent depend on private institutions and the

remaining depends on other methods. If we take the settlement-wise data, in 37

settlements (86 percent) health service from government sector is available. In 16

settlements (37 percent), the health service facility is available. In 34 Settlements

(79 percent), the service of the health workers is available. In 25 settlements (58

percent), the vaccination or immunization injections, the cleaning programmes,

awareness programmes etc., are going on. In 32 settlements (74 percent), the

health workers provide service to the women for special protection during

pregnancy, delivery and post-pregnancy period.

In 35 Settlements, Allopathic medical treatment is available through

primary health centres, in 9 settlements, through dispensaries and in 5 settlements

through the hospitals. In 15 settlements, the Ayurveda treatment is available

through dispensaries and in 5 settlements through Ayurveda hospitals. The

Homoeo treatment is also available in tribal settlements. The Homoeo dispensaries

give medicines in 2 settlements and Homoeo hospitals give treatment in 7

settlements. The mobile dispensary distributes medicines in one settlement and 8

settlements get treatment from the mother-child protection centre.

In 7 settlements, the traditional tribal medicine is practicing. In 6

settlements, the traditional medicine man or plathi is living and in 6 settlements,

the service of plathi is available from the nearby settlements. The traditional

289

medicine in the modern period is available for born cracks, broken bones, for

poison, yellow fever (hepatitis), skin diseases, rheumatism, diarrhea, vomiting and

treatment for children67

.

6.24.1 Lack of Health Facilities

Three branches of modern medicines and traditional medicine are available

in the tribal settlements of Pathanamthitta district. But, in some settlements the

service of the medical team is not available. In one settlement, there are 199

families, but they do not get the service of the medical officer and medical team.

The medical aid or the financial aid for treatment is not available from the medical

department or the local self government. In some other settlements, where the

average number of tribal families is between 100 – 199 but the regular visit of

medical officials and their service is not available in needful occasions. In 19

settlements, the number of families is below 25 but the public system for health

service is absent.

In 33 settlements, the interference of local self government in medical

treatment and medical aid is unsatisfactory. In the rainy seasons, the poverty and

diseases hunt the tribals and often the tribal department and health department turn

a deaf ear towards the problems of the tribes. In such cases, the voluntary

organizations and media pay special attention and make exclusives and bring that

matter to the public.

6.24.2 Diseases of Tribals in Pathanamthitta District

In Pathanamthitta district, the tribals are addicted to many diseases and

most of them are permanent disease. The Tuberculosis still exists among some of

the tribals and 57 such cases are found in Pathanamthitta district. The diseases like

cancer (22 patients), Asthma (76 patients), blood pressure or hyper tension (95

67

District Survey Report on the Scheduled Tribes of Pathanamthitta,Vol.1., Kerala

Institute of Local Administration (KILA) and Scheduled Tribe Development

Department, 2010, pp33-34.

290

patients) and fever and cold (94 persons) are extensively found among the tribals.

The case of physical / mental challenges is widespread among them.68

Table: 6.16 Death in 5 years among the Tribals of Pathanamthitta District

Sl.

No

Reason for Death Persons Number

1 Food Scarcity Individual 1

2 Treatment not availed Individuals 34

3 Infant Mortality Children 4

4 During Delivery Women 4

5 Excess use of Intoxicants Individuals 10

6 Attack of wild animals Individuals 1

Source: Survey Report of Pathanamthitta

The unavailability of nutritious food and the scarcity of balanced diet are

the leading causes of tribal diseases. In tribal families, the rate of poverty is very

high and often 3 meals a day is impossible in large number of families. In 86

families, one-time meal is in practice due to financial constraints. Those who are

engaged in seasonal occupations, the unstable income compel many tribal families

to give up the timely in taking of food.

In 400 families, small children below the age of 5 years included. In that,

359 families are vigilant to give vaccination to their children at regular times. In

33 families, vaccination is given to the children partially. In 8 families,

vaccination is not yet given to the children69

.

The tribals in Pathanamthitta district are not utilizing the facilities of

modern medicine in full scale. They cannot preserve their traditional treatment and

precious medicines prepared from plants. The awareness programmes in the tribal

settlements is inevitable. Medical camps should be conducted at least once in a

month in the settlements and the service of mobile medical units should be

68

Ibid. 69

Ibid, pp.35-36.

291

provided for that purpose. Vaccination and immunization programmes should be

popularized among them.

6.25 The Tribal Health in Kollam District

In Kollam district, the health profile of the tribals is exhibiting a blending

of positive and negative aspects. In the district, total number of tribal families is

1303 and about 1177 families get medical service through different agencies. For

treatment, 944 families (80 percent) depend on government institutions and 227

families (20 percent) depend on private hospitals.

In 8 settlements, the common system of health care is absent. In 3

settlements, the service of the health workers is not available. In seven settlements,

vaccinations, cleanliness programmes, health awareness programmes etc., are in

dormant stage. The service of the primary health centres is not available in 3

settlements, the service of allopathic dispensaries is not available in 23 settlements

and the allopathic hospitals cannot render their service in 23 settlements.

The service of Ayurvedic medicine is not available in tribal settlements of

Kollam. The Ayurvedic dispensaries cannot supply their medicine in 18 tribal

settlements and of Ayurvedic hospitals in 16 settlements. Homoeo dispensaries

cannot provide medicine in 25 settlements and Homoeo hospitals cannot pay their

attention in 23 settlements. The service of mobile dispensary is not yet

implemented in Kollam district. It is the need of the tribals to get more facilities of

health care in each settlement and good awareness about the diseases and

medicines should be given. Timely consultation is required to diagnose the

diseases and regular application of medicine is essential to cure diseases.

In Kollam district, the traditional tribal medicine is not existed in 23

settlements and the service of traditional medicine man or „plathi‟ is not available

there. But, the service of the medicine man is confined in Anchal and

Chadayamangalam Block Panchayats. Their treatment is available for limited

number of diseases. The tribal medicine men can be equipped with more

medicines and techniques of treatments for the present diseases like asthma,

292

diabetes, cancer, skin diseases, blood pressure etc. Orientation or training should

be given to them to learn and practice the new techniques of treatment for such

diseases and the service of medicine men from other parts of Kerala like Wayanad,

Idukki or Palakkad can be provided to them.

In the district, the common system for health care is completely absent in 2

tribal settlements. In these settlements, the measures for health care like

vaccination, hygienic programmes, awareness programmes etc., are not

conducting. In one settlement, the service of government medical officer is not

available. In 3 settlements, the government system to distribute medicine is not

available. In four settlements, the patients did not get the financial aid for

treatment from the local self government bodies.

6.25.1 Common Diseases of Tribals in Kollam District

In Kollam district, the number of persons addicted to physical / mental

diseases and long term diseases are very high. In 170 families, persons with

physical challenges are living. In 27 families, 27 individuals have mental

challenges. In 19 families, 26 persons are under the grip of multi-diseases. In 627

families, 845 members face permanent diseases.

Table: 6.17 Tribals with Different Deficiencies

Sl.No Different Deficiencies No. of Persons Percentage

1 Physically weak 131 47

2 Deaf 17 6

3 Dumb 7 2

4 Blind 38 14

5 Mentally Retarded 2 0.72

6 Mental illness 25 9

7 Fits 10 4

8 Multi challenges 26 9

9 Others 23 8

Total 279 100

Source: District Survey Report, KILA & STDD, 2010

293

6.25.2 Physical-Mental Challenges in Tribal Communities

In the Kanikkar community, 150 persons (6 percent) in 129 families (19

percent), faces different deficiencies. Among them, 69 have physical disabilities,

18 are blind, 11 are deaf and 15 with mental illness. In Mala Pandaram

community, 84 members (8 percent) in 67 families (21 percent) have different

deficiencies. In that community, 39 have physical disabilities, 12 are blind, 5 are

deaf and 4 have mental illness. In the Mala Vetar community, 25 members (3

percent) in 24 families (10 percent) have different type of deficiencies. Among

them, 11 have physical disabilities, 5 are blind and 4 have mental illness.In the

Ulladar community, 20 persons in 16 families (24 percent) have physical

problems. Among them, 12 have physical disabilities, 3 are blind and 2 have

mental illness.

The scarcity of food and the lack of nutritious food are evident among the

tribal communities. Out of 1303 tribal families in Kollam district, 4 families have

the financial capacity to take one meal a day. In 131 families, 2 meals a day is the

practice, due to financial constraints. In 49 families, mal nutrition is found and

they mainly engaged in the occupation of, coolie labour in forest land (19

families), collection of forest resources (10 families), non-agrarian activities (6

families) agricultural labour (4 families)70

.

The measures should be taken to distribute nutritious food through the

Anganwadis and the interference of kudumbasree activities in those areas can be a

relief to the tribals. Incentives and orientations should be given to find out and use

the traditional food items of the tribes, once they used in abundance, and it would

be a good solution to retain their old health condition. The craze for modern food,

especially among the tribal youth is not a good tendency. The transformation of

70

District Survey Report on the Scheduled Tribes of Kollam, Vol.1., Kerala Institute of

Local Administration (KILA) and Scheduled Tribe Development Department, 2010,

pp.44-47.

294

dietary habit from tradition to modern should be changed. They should be

encouraged to collect natural food resources from the forest.

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) is not

empowered in the tribal areas. Measures should be taken to participate the tribals

in its activities and through that food security can be ensured among them and it

would save their life from the grip of diseases and misery.

6.26 The Housing Facilities of the Tribes in Pathanamthitta District

In Pathanamthitta District, 61 tribal families did not possess their own

land. Among them, 20 families live with their relatives, 18 families live in rental

houses, and 14 families did not have any shelter, 6 families live in temporary

sheds attached to the houses of others and 3 families live in other means of

residence.

In the tribal settlements, 1681 families (93.84 percent) have their own land

and 1575 of them have their own houses. In the district, 106 families did not have

house. One family has land outside the settlement and they live with their relatives

and 48 families have land, both in and outside the settlements.

In the tribal communities, 1620 families (91 percent) have houses. In the

Mala Pandaram community 23 families did not have houses and they live still in

the midst of forest in the nearby areas of Sabarimala and Chalakkayam. They did

not possess any land. The other communities did not possess land are Mala Vetans

(4 families), Ulladans (2 families) and Mala Arayans (3 families).

In the Mala Pandaram community, 182 families live in Pathanamthitta

district, 132 of them have own houses. The remaining 10 families live with their

relatives, 1 family live for rent, 11 families live in the sheds attached to some

others houses and five families use other methods.

In the Mala Vetar community, out of 632 families, 599 families have their

own houses. The remaining 10 families live in rental houses and 23 families live

with their relatives. In the Mala Arayar community, 264 families have their own

295

houses. The remaining 30 families are homeless and 14 of them live in rental

homes.

In the Ulladar community, out of 674 families, 635 families have their own

houses. It is 94.20 percent of their total families. Their 16 families live with the

relatives, 14 families live for rent and 9 families live in attached sheds of others

houses.

The chief source of income for the construction of houses is the

government aid through different channels. The government aid is completely

used for the construction of 1050 houses (64.81 percent). The government aid and

personal income of the family is utilized for the construction of 213 houses

(13.81percent). The tribal families constructed 278 houses (17.61percent) at their

own expense. Other measures were utilized for the construction of 79 houses

(4.87percent).

If we analyse the condition of houses, out of 1620 houses, 649 houses

(40.06 percent) are „Kachcha‟ or in bad condition, 594 houses (36.67 percent) are

with medium quality and 377 houses (23.27 percent) are „Pucca‟ or in good

condition. The houses under the category of „Kuchcha‟ are in tumbling stage. The

provision of kitchen is absent in 828 houses (51.11percent). In 706 families, the

facilities are inadequate for the whole family. In 1413 (87.22 percent) houses have

no facility to rear domestic animals.

In the Mala Vetar community half of their houses (43.34 percent) are in

decaying or tumbling stage. Their 302 houses lacked kitchen facility. In the Mala

Arayar community 31.06 percent houses are in declining stage and, their 90

houses did not have kitchen.

In the Mala Pandaram community, 80 houses are in tumbling stage.

Their134 houses lacked kitchen facilities. In 50 percent houses they lacked

sufficient space to accommodate the whole family members.

296

Table: 6.18 Latrine facilities of Tribals in Pathanamthitta District

Sl.No Condition of Latrine No. of latrines

1 Unhygienic latrines 103

2 Latrines without roof 180

3 Latrines without wall 22

4 Latrines with no facility & water 1

5 Unhygienic latrines due to other reasons 11

No. of houses without domestic latrines 890


The above table discloses the dangerous fact of unhygienic atmosphere

among the tribes of Pathanamthitta district. There are 890 families did not possess

any system of domestic latrines and they use open airs to deposit their excretion.

The contagious diseases never vanish from the tribal regions due to that.

The source of water is also related to the houses. In 7 settlements, private

wells are absent. Common wells are absent in 26 settlements. In 19 settlements,

pipe water is available. In 543 families (1791 families), water is taking from

domestic well or bore wells. They constitute 30.31 percent of the total families. In

559 families (31.21 percent) drinking water is taking from others well. In that

group, 89 families collect water from the sources within a distance of 1 kilometer.

Public well or bore well is the source of water for 238 families. In 239 families,

the source of water is pond/river/stream/ brooks/cascade etc. In 762 families,

water is available all over the year. But in 1029 families (57.45 percent) drinking

water is not abundant. In those families, water is scarcity last for the summer or

for six months a year71

.

6.27 Electrification in Tribal Settlements of Pathanamthitta District

In Pathanamthitta district, 7 tribal settlements are not yet electrified. In two

settlements, solar panels are found. In 36 settlements, electricity is available, but

603 houses are not electrified. In 139 houses wiring works are over. In non-

71

District Survey Report on the Scheduled Tribes of Pathanamthitta,Vol.1., Kerala

Institute of Local Administration (KILA) and Scheduled Tribe Development

Department, 2010, pp37-38.

297

electrified settlements, 265 houses are included. In 454 houses, the children study

in various classes, but electrification is not yet completed72

. So, it would affect

their learning process. The lack of basic facilities in tribal houses is evident.

6.28 The Property Right of the Tribes in Pathanamthitta District

In Pathanamthitta district, majority of the tribals have property right or

Pattayam on forest land, specially allotted for them. The tribal land can be

classified into various categories, on the basis of the availability of the land,

i.e.,the land allotted by government, Pattayam to surplus land, the forest land

without document, hereditary land, acquired by a person himself, tenancy right

obtained, the land without any document, the land obtained as a part of

rehabilitation process etc.

Table: 6.19 Tribes and Method of Acquisition of Land in Pathanamthitta

District

Sl.No Type of Land Acquired No. of Families

1. Government‟s placement 117

2. Pattayam on excess land 22

3. Forest land with Pattayam 626

4. Forest land without Pattayam 209

5. Hereditary land 523

6. Self-acquired 198

7. Land with tenancy right 21

8. Land without document 13

9. Landlord‟s land 7

10. Rehabilitation land 17

11. Got by other means 59

Source: District Survey Report of Pathanamthitta, KILA and STDD, 2010

In Pathanamthitta district, 209 tribal families live in the forest land without

Pattayam. But, 62 families in the district are still landless. The government has to

take measures to rehabilitate the landless tribes by providing sufficient land to

them in proper places.

72

Ibid, pp.40-44.

298

In the district, 294 tribal families have more than one acre of land under

their possession. In the Mala Araya community, 330 families acquired land and

175 families have forest land with document, but 49 families have forest land

without document. Nine families are landless.

In the Mala Pandaram community, 187 families have land and 61 of them

have forest land with document and 29 families did not possess any document, but

live in the forest land. 40 families have hereditary land but 16 families are

landless.

In the Mala Vetar community, 653 families have land. In that community,

290 families secured hereditary land and 91 families have self acquired land, 73

families live in government provided land and 76 families live in the forest land

which has no document.

In the Ulladar community, 700 families have land in their custody. Among

them 313 families have forest land with document and 55 have forest land without

document, 166 families have hereditary land, but 14 families are landless73

.

6.29 The Tribes and Forest in Pathanamthitta District

In Pathanamthitta district, the tribals have close affinity with the forest and

it is a part and parcel of their life style. In the district, majority of the settlements

are near or outside the reserve forest and only few settlements are inside the

reserve forest. There are seven settlements still survive in the reserve forest and

308 families included in that category. Some settlements are in the nearby areas of

the reserve forest and 12 settlements and 827 families come under that section. In

other regions, outside the vicinity of reserve forest, 24 settlements and 521

families settled. The total number of tribal families in different settlements is

1656. In the district, the tribals live in forest regions are engaged in different

73

Ibid, pp.46-48.

299

occupations and 277 families engaged in the occupation closely linked with the

forest74

.

Table: 6.20 The Occupation Pattern of Tribal Families in the Forest Region

Sl. No Occupations of Tribals Living in the Forest

Region

No. of Families

1. Related to Forest 277

2. Agriculture 468

3. Other Occupations 719

4. Government Employment 154

5. Others 47

Total 1656

Source: District Survey Report, KILA and STDD, 2010

The strict laws implemented in the reserve forests have curtailed the

freedom of the tribals to handle forest resources and they turned their attention in

other means of subsistence. In the district, only 277 tribal families are indulged in

occupations related to forest. The introduction of relaxations in the existing forest

laws, to enable the tribals to engage in the occupations based on forest resources,

essential for the preservation of their means of subsistence and the protection of

traditional relation with the forest.

6.30 The Social Security of the Tribes in Pathanamthitta District

The Union and State governments have announced the programmes for the

upgradation of tribals and they meant for the social upliftment of the marginalized

communities. The ration cards, identity cards, employment guarantee programmes

etc., are issued for the enhancement of social security of the downtrodden classes.

A close evaluation of the utilization of projects by the tribals would unveil their

attitude and approach to such projects.

Table: 6.21 Tribal Families and Ration Card in Pathanamthitta District

Sl.No Details of Ration Card No. of families

1. Tribal families having ration card 1449

2. Families did not enlist all family members in the 369

74

Ibid.

300

card

3. Families did not have ration card 342

4. Families did not possess ration card at present 45

5. BPL Families 45

Source: District Survey Report, (KILA &STDD, 2010)

The above table reveals that the tribals not yet attained the privileges

specially offered for them. In the case of ration cards, 369 families could not

include all their family members and 342 families did not possess the ration card.

Even though the ration card is the basic document for many privileges, the tribals

are least bothered or interested to avail it. The identity card of the Election

Commission is another valuable source for many concessions. In the district, 765

tribals did not have identity cards. The alleviation of poverty from the

marginalized communities is the aim of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural

Employment Guarantee Programme (MGNREGP). It guarantees 100 days

employment to the members of below poverty line (BPL) families. The tribals

have least participation in that programme because 3878 members of the tribal

communities did not have the identity card of that programme75

. The social

inclusion of tribals to the other communities is not fully fulfilled. The location of

settlement of the tribals is a very important fact for their lack of growth in the

expected rate. The nearness to the forest and the unavailability of touch with the

main stream societies causes their deprivation from many progressive

programmes. But the tribal communities living in the villages near other section of

people have very good knowledge about the plans and projects, mainly aimed for

them.

6.31 The Housing Facility of the Tribes in Kollam District

In Kollam district, the total number of tribal families is 1303. Among them,

112 families (85 percent) have land in their settlements, 5 families (0.38 percent)

have land outside their settlements. Some tribals have land both in and out their

75

Ibid., pp.40-44.

301

settlements. There are 141 (11 percent) such families in Kollam district. It is

reported that 45 families (3 percent) did not have property right on land. Measures

should be taken to distribute land to the landless tribals.

In the district, 1138 families (87 percent) have their own houses, 96

families (7 percent) live with their relatives, 27 families (2 percent) live in rental

houses, 18 families (4.45 percent) live in sheds temporarily attached to others

houses and five families live in other ways. There are 19 (1.46 percent) homeless

families. Top priority should be given to 165 families (12.66 percent), they lacked

home facilities, when schemes introduce for housing.

When we analyse the community wise holding of land and possession of

houses, in Mala Vetar community, 19 families are landless and 41 families did not

possess land. Their percentages are 8 and 18 respectively. In the Mala Pandaram

community, the total number of families is 317 and among them 11 families (4

percent) are landless and 15 families (16 percent) are homeless. In the Ulladar

community, out of 68 families, 12 families (18 percent) are landless and 24

families (35 percent) are homeless.

The largest tribal community in the district, the Kanikkar has 685 families

as a whole, only 3 families (0.44 percent) are landless. But, 49 families (7 percent)

in that community are homeless.

The tribal families live in the houses of their relatives is 96. In that

category, the Kanikkars have 32 families, Mala Pandarams have 22, Mala Vetans

have 30 and Ulladans have 12 families.

The families in rental houses are 27 and among them the Kanikkars- 10,

Mala Pandarams – 2, mala Vetans – 5, Mala Arayans – 1 and 9 families of

Ulladans. In the Mala Pandaram community, 18 communities are landless and

homeless and only one family of Kanikkar community included in that category.

In the district, the tribal houses are built from the funds provided by various

sources including the government. Out of 1153 houses, 664 houses (58 percent)

were built with government aids, 248 houses (22 percent) built by the tribals

302

themselves and 200 families (17 percent) utilized the government fund and self

income to construct their houses and 41 families (3 percent) used other ways to

build their houses76

.

6.31.1 The Condition of Houses

In Kollam district, the tribal houses are not uniform in their quality. Some

houses are very bad or in the stage of decaying. There are 588 houses (52 percent)

included in the category of Kuchcha or tumbling stage. There are 314 houses (28

percent) with medium quality, 236 houses (20 percent) are qualitatively better or

„pucca‟.

The Kanikkar community has the largest number of low quality houses. Out

of 636 houses of Kanikkars, 351 (55 percent) houses are in bad condition. In the

Mala Pandaram community, out of 267 houses, 146 houses (55 percent) are in

decaying condition. In the Mala Vetar community, 72 houses (38 percent) and in

the Ulladar community 19 houses (43 percent) are in very bad condition. In 540

houses (47 percent) kitchen facility is not available. In that category, 247 houses

are of Kanikkars, 139 of Mala Pandarams, 116 are of Mala Vetans and 37 of

Ulladans. In 600 houses, (53 percent), all the members of the family cannot live

together due to lack of enough space. In 1100 houses (97 percent), the

convenience to keep domestic animals is absent. In 1119 houses (98 percent), they

have no facility to keep firewood and equipments for work.

In the district, 423 houses (37 percent) are single room houses, 566 houses

(50 percent) are double room houses, 126 houses (11 percent) are triple room

houses and 23 houses (3 percent) have more than three rooms.

From the above data, it is clear that 50 percent of the tribal houses need

repairing. So, financial aid should be provided to the needy families to make their

houses fit to live. It is not beneficial to give the responsibility to the tribals

76

District Survey Report on the Scheduled Tribes of Kollam, op.cit., p.60.

303

themselves, because out of 130 incomplete houses, 118(91 percent) are

constructed under the supervision of the house owners themselves77

.

Table: 6.22 Ownership of the House and the Method of Living

Sl.No House No. of families Percentage

1 Ownership 1138 87.34

2 With relatives 96 7.37

3 Rental house 27 2.07

4 Attached part of other houses 18 1.38

5 Other methods 5 0.38

6 Landless 19 1.46


Table: 6.23 Qualitative Condition of the Houses

Sl.No Condition of the house No. of houses Percentage

1 Lowest quality 588 51.67

2 Medium quality 314 27.59

3 Good quality 236 20.74

Total 1138 100


Table: 6.24 Homeless Tribes of Kollam District

Sl.No Category Number Percentage

1 Landless and homeless 50 3.84

2 Homeless 165 12.66

3 No suitable home to live 588 45.13

4 Home partially suitable to live 314 24.10

5 Good home to live 236 24.10

Total 1303 18.11


6.32 Latrine Facility in Tribal Areas

In Kollam district, the latrine facility is not fully available in all houses.

The health and hygiene of a society is directly related to the availability of good

latrines. The tribals living in or near the forest area are not bothered about the

latrine with good hygiene.

77

Ibid. p.61.

304

Table: 6.25 Latrine Facilities of Tribes in Kollam District

Sl.No Condition of Latrine Number Percentage

1 Settlement without domestic/common latrine 8 31

2 Houses without latrines 778 60

3 Unhygienic latrines 41 8

4 Latrines without roof 122 23

5 Latrines without wall 18 3

6 Latrines with no facility of water 3 -


The above table highlights the significance of the popularization of a

culture to build and keep hygienic latrines, essential for the preservation of human

health. The tribals have to speed up their thinking in that direction, but good

awareness programmes are required to channelize and mobilize them to attain that

goal.

6.33 The Source of Water in Tribal Settlements

The tribals in Kollam district are facing the problem of water scarcity,

especially in the summer season or almost for a period of six months in a year.

The tribals from time immemorial were in the midst of forest and they used the

water sources available in the forest and they had the habit of migration mainly to

the centre were water is abundantly available. But, in due course of time, they are

compelled to settle in places, pointed out and allotted by the authorities. They are

not bothered about the digging of well in their land. On the other hand, they like to

retain the old habit of collecting water from the natural sources available in their

premises.

Table: 6.26 Source of Water in Tribal Settlements in Kollam District

Sl.No Distance from settlement to water source Number Percentage

1 Water source in the settlement 16 63

2 Water source within 500 meters 3 11

3 Water source within 500 -1000 meters 1 4

4 Water source within 1000 – 2500 meters 3 11

5 Water source within 2500 – 5000 meters - -

6 Water source more than 5000 meters 3 11

Total 26 100


305

Table: 6.27 Sources of Water and Families in Kollam District

Sl.No Sources of water Number Percentage

1 Own well / bore well 366 28

2 Common well / bore well 262 20

3 Pond/river/stream etc 325 25

4 Rain harvesting tank 1 -

5 Canal 1 -

6 Keni/Oottu/Suranka 8 -

7 Dependence on others 178 14

8 Other methods 162 13


The self sufficiency in water among the tribals of Kollam district is very

less and only 28 percent of the tribals depend on their own measures of water

source. The sources like keni, suranga and oottu are the tapping of water using the

same natural objects like bamboo, rode etc. In the forest areas, some small sources

are available and a certain source of water can be collected from them in all the

seasons. The chief sources of water for the tribals in dry seasons were related with

the rocks or hilly terrains in the forest.

6.34 Electricification in Tribal Settlements of Kollam District

The tribal settlements in Kerala are in remote areas and the electrification

process is a difficult task. Besides, the lack of infrastructure, the restrictions of

forest law, the non-corporation of various departments and local self governments

etc., are some of the reasons for the non-electrification of tribal settlements.

Table: 6.28 Availability of Electricity in Tribal Settlements in Kollam

Sl.No Availability of electricity Settlements

1 Settlements did not electrify 6

2 Solar lights in unelectrified settlements 3

3 No street light in electrified settlements 10

4 Street lights not functioning (settlements) 5

5 Interruption in electric supply (settlements) 10

6 Settlements with low voltage 12

7 Possibility to start mini-hydro projects 4

Source: District Survey Report, Kollam, KILA and STDD, 2010

306

A comparative analysis of the tribals of Pathanamthitta and Kollam

districts, exhibits some interesting factors. The health and housing facilities of

tribals in both these districts are somewhat similar. The health and concerned

departments are functioning in tribal settlements or in nearby places. But the

performances of such departments are not in par with the necessities of tribals. The

usual laziness found among the government departments can be visible in the

attitude of the officials in the tribal areas also. The tribals are in the premature

stage of using the government services and guidance and awareness is required to

accelerate their activities. The authorities should approach them and provide the

services offered by their departments.

The expected growth in the tribal areas in infrastructure and basic needs are

not equivalent to the funds expanded for them. An attitudinal change is required

both from the tribes and authorities. The sophisticated communities learn their

needs in connection with the changing world, but the tribals have minimum

knowledge about the world outside and the thirst for change is very less. So, the

creation of a positive attitude among the tribals is required and it is possible only

through the interference of the designated authorities in their problems, from the

grass root level. The tribal communities require the support of the philanthropists

for their all round development.

6.35 The Tribals and Forest in Kollam District

In Kollam district, the tribals maintain a good relation with the forest and

many tribal families live in and around the forest. There are 12 settlements and

793 families live in the reserve forest, 6 settlements and 232 families live near the

reserve forest. The remaining 8 settlements and 206 families live in other

regions78

.

The communities living in the forest have different occupations and only

some families depend on forest for their subsistence

78

Ibid., p.63.

307

Table: 6.29 The Occupational Pattern of Tribals in Kollam District

Sl.No Occupation Families in

the forest

Families near

the forest

Families in

other regions

Total

1. In forest land 463 150 23 636

2. In agrarian sector 86 19 58 163

3. Self employment 24 1 9 34

4. Other occupations 110 41 86 237

5. Govt./semi govt. jobs 79 13 12 104

6. Other activities 24 4 15 43

7. No means of income 7 4 3 14

Total 793 232 206 1231

Source: District Survey Report of Kollam: KILA and STDD, 2010

The table clearly indicates the tribal dependence on forest land, out of

1231tribal families, 636 depend on forest for their means of livelihood and it is

51.67 percent of the total families. In Kollam district, the area of cultivable land

under the possession of the tribals is insufficient and only 163 families engaged in

agrarian sector for their occupation and it is 13.24 percent of the total families.

Their neglect of education is evident from the number of families with

government/semi government jobs. There are 104 families have jobs in

government / semi government institutions.

Table: 6.30 Possibilities to Collect Forest Resources in Kollam District

Sl.No Settlements connected to the collection of forest

resources

Number

1. Collection of forest resources at present 14

2. Collecting resources from nearby areas 4

3. Collecting resources from distant places 10

4. Not permitted to collect forest resources 7

5. Scarcity of forest resources 5


In the district, 88 tribal families sell out their forest resources in Scheduled

Tribe Co-operative Societies. Another 28 families have their transaction with the

308

Vana Samrakshaka Samithi (VSS) and 42 families sell their products directly in

the market or sell it to other merchants79

.

6.36 Social Security of the Tribes in Kollam District

In Kollam district, the participation of tribals in the employment guarantee

programme (NREGP) is satisfactory. There are 2590 persons did not have the

membership in the employment guarantee programme. The popularization of the

benefits of the schemes for the tribals is required and their participation should be

ensured. Lack of awareness programmes is the chief constraint and voluntary

response from their part cannot be expected. The service of the tribal promoters

and the non-government organizations should be utilized to make the tribals, to

develop pro- attitude towards the projects for their well being.

Table: 6.31 Tribals in Kollam District: Participation in Organizations and

the Possession of Legal documents

Sl.No Particulars Unit Number

1. Membership in Vana Samrakshana Samithi Families 30

2. Membership in Scheduled Tribes in Co-operative Societies Families 380

3. Membership in other co-operative societies Families 449

4. Insurance protection Families 241

5. Insurance Protection Members 288

6. Didn‟t have Ration Card Families 129

7. B P L families Families 985

8. Get Annapurna privilege Families 173

9. Get Andhyodaya Annayojana Families 699

10. Didn‟t get Identity Card Members 613

11. Didn‟t get the card of Employment Guarantee Programme Members 2590

Source: District Survey Reportof Kollam: KILA and STDD, 2010

Table: 6.32 Tribals and Pension Schemes (Kollam District)

Sl.No Pension Schemes Number of persons

1. Widow pension 48

2. Old age pension 31

3. Handicap pension 8

4. Agriculture Labour pension 10

5. Unemployment Allowance 7

79

Ibid., p.65.

309

6. Other social pensions 16

7. Service pension 27

Total 147


The total number of beneficiaries in Kollam district, under various pension

schemes is 147. The tribals are not vigilant to achieve the privileges offered for

them, under different schemes. The lack of intimation from the concerned

authorities is one of the chief factors for that. The tribal families indulging in the

occupations related to the forest would be in the interior of forest for many months

and they are ignorant about the schemes and programmes announced by the

concerned departments. When they come back to their settlements, they are eager

to sell out the items collected from the forest. After that, they are most interested

to enjoy their life with the money they earned and neglect the welfare programmes

announced in due course of time.

6.37 Conclusion

An in-depth analysis on the condition of housing and health facilities among

the tribes of Kerala, particularly in Pathanamthitta and Kollam districts proved

beyond doubt that the overall situation is not so bad, if we compare the

tribals in other parts of India. Even though the number of „pucca‟ houses is

comparatively not so many, the number of kuchcha houses in Kerala is more

than the tribe‟s have in other parts of India. There is a high variation in the

utilization of funds by different tribal communities. The communities deemed

as forward are far ahead in that matter but the backward communities are

retaining their under development by abstaining from the main stream of the

society. The lack of infrastructure facilities like roads remains as a chief hindrance

in the construction of „pucca‟ houses in tribal areas. The Forest Laws prohibit the

excess use of forest land for other purposes. So, if the tribals continue their

habitation inside the forest their dream cannot be fulfilled.

310

In the area of health facilities, the progress made by Kerala cannot be

seen in the tribal areas. In Pathanamthitta and Kollam districts the health profile of

the tribals is not at par with the general community. Some rare diseases are found

among the tribals and many other diseases are the result of unhygienic food and

water. Those diseases can be avoided by improving the living standard of the

tribals.

The women empowerment has been made only little progress among the

tribals. The practices like child marriage and excess number of children, dowry,

divorces and broken families, burden of subsistence of family, diseases and taboos

make the life of the tribal women very severe. The emancipation of women is

possible through the process of education, employment and empowerment. The

matter of relief is that, unlike tribal women in other parts of India, the lot of tribal

women in Kerala is far better. The tribals are backward in the utilization of social

security projects and they lacked good road, latrine, drinking water, strong houses

etc.

health and housing facility of the tribes in...

Documents