PRIMITIVE TRIBES / PVTGSST POPULATION IN TAMIL NADU ( Census-

2011)

IRULAS, 1,89,661

KATTU NAIKANS,

46,672KOTAS, 308

KURUM-ABAS, 6,823

PANIANS, 10,134

TODAS; 2,002

Others, 539097

PVTG Population Trends

1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 20110

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IRULA’SIrula’s are living in different parts of India but

majority of them are based in southern parts of Western Ghats and migrated to other parts adjacent to urban areas in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and southern Andhra Pradesh in search of livelihood.

The Irula’s lived in the forests until enforcement of Forest and wildlife conservation acts maintaining system of interdependence with the neighbouring communities. Traditional snake and rat catchers they used to sell honey, honey wax, firewood, etc.

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TodaPaniyanKurumbaKotaKattu NayakanIrula 2

Cont.

The origin of the word "Irul / Irula“ means darkness may be drawn from Dravidian languages, Irulas physiology depict they belong to the Negrito (or Negroid) race and imply curly hair and dark complexion are their prominent feature, their mother tongue is Irula language but their language and culture is in extinction due to displacement / migration and impact of acculturation / sanscrtisation,

The Human development indicators predict that majority of the Irula’s living conditions is poor in-terms of illiteracy, poverty, housing, indebtedness, health and economic participation etc.,

KATTU NAYKAN’SKattunayakan tribe basically hunting and

food gathering tribe they have similar ethno cultural characteristics of Jenu Kuruman / Jenu Kurba, Ten Kurumbas and Sholanayakan Scheduled Tribes.

Kattunayakan tribe are found in Waynad in Kerala, Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu and Mysore region in Karnataka, many are practicing primitive agriculture with small land holdings and some are working as agriculture laborers, most of these families are in to seasonal migration as plantation workers in Tea, Coffee and rubber plantations.

Cont.Kattu Nayakan use their own mother tongue

namely Kattu Nayakan language which is similar to Kannada

KOTASKOTA’S are inhabitants of Kollimalai hills in the

Western Ghats especially Kil Kotagiri, Sholur, Kethi, Kunda and Gudlur tribal colonies.

Literature depicts Kotas’ are traditionally skilled

persons who use to work as pottery makers, smiths, carpenters, weavers and musicians however as the time has changed their occupations to agriculture and animal husbandry and some of them are working as agriculture laborers for survival.

KURUMBASThe Kurumba tribal community is also identified as Alu-

Kurumbas, Betta-Kurumbas, Jenu-Kurumbas, Kurubas, Mulla-Kurumbas, Palu-Kurumbas, Urali-Kurumbas. Alu Kurumbas are found in the taluks of Coonoor and Kotagiri, Betta Kurumbas and Jenu Kurumbas inhabit in Mudumalai sanctuary, Mullu Kurumbas are found in Pandalur taluk whereas Urali Kurumbas are distributed in the taluks of Gudalur and Pandalur Kuruba tribe inhabited in .

Physical characteristics of the Kurumbas are concerned, the people have flat noses, wedge-shaped faces, hollow cheeks and prominent cheekbones. They have slightly pointed chins, dark complexion and large eyes

The racial group known as Kurumba tribe had close affinity with the Todas and Badagas. The tribal group is recognised in Badaga as ‘Kurumba’ and ‘Kurb’ in Toda. The term Kurumba connotes jungle-dweller. The Kurumba tribal community is �also identified as Alu-Kurumbas, Betta-Kurumbas, Jenu-Kurumbas, Kurubas, Mudugas, Mulla-Kurumbas, Palu-Kurumbas, Urali-Kurumbas. Several Kurumba tribes are also concentrated in the dense forest ranges and also at the bottom of hills. They are said to be the modern representatives of ancient Pallavas.

ContThe following was stated in the Madras Census

Report(1891) “The Kurumbas or Kurumbar are the modern representative of the ancient Kurumbas or Pallavas who were once so powerful throughout southern India, but very little trace of their greatness now remains.  In the 7th century, the power of the Pallava kings seems to have been at its zenith; but shortly after this, the Kongu, Chola and Chalukya chiefs succeeded in winning several victories over them.  The final overthrow of the Kurumba sovereignty was affected by the Chola king Adondai about the 7th or 8th century A.D. and the Kurumbas were scattered far and wide.  Many fled to the hills, and in the Nilgiris and the Wyanad, in Coorg and Mysore, representatives of this ancient race are now found as wild and uncivilised tribes.  Elsewhere the Kurumbas are more advanced, and are usually shepherds and weavers of coarse woolen blankets.”

PANIANSPaniyan tribes are the major tribal community of Kerala. They resides in

hilly and forest areas of Kerala and Karnataka. The word panian means woker in the regional language Malayalam. Ancient period Paniyan tribe are amongst those tribal people who have worked as bonded laborers by the land lords. Majority of Paniyan tribes lives in the northern part of the Western Ghat. Curly hair, thick lips and dark complexion (like Negros) are the physical appearance of these people. The main occupation of these tribes is to work in the field of land owners. They worked as slaves in the ancient period. Most of the people of this community engaged with agricultural works but some of them engaged in Tea and Coffee estates and constructional works. Paniyan tribes live together in colionies, their settlement comprises of rows of small huts constructed with bamboo with thatched roofs. Paniyan tribes of wayanad district speaks Paniyan lauguage, it is a complexion of Malayalam and Kannada but some of the words are independent. They choose their life partners from their tribe only. The Paniyan marriage is usally arranged by parents of bride and groom. The priest is called Chemmi . During the marriage ceremony as part of the ritual, 16 coins and new dresses are given to the bride. Monogamy is common practice among them. The Paniyan tribes have a lot of religious practices . They worshiped Banyan tree, Kuli, Kadu Bhagavadi with great reverence . They also believes in spirits.

TODAToda Tribe is the most ancient and unusual tribe of

Nilgiri Hills of Tamil nadu. The todas have their own language. They have their own secretive customs and regulations. Todas worship nature like hill gods, Lord Amodr (the realm of the dead) & Goddess Teikirzi. Toda community is well known for its embroidery garments. This is made usually by women using red and black threads on a white background giving a rich effect. Todas mostly have large herd of buffaloes. Their livelihood is mainly by producing milk products. And they are also experts in silver-smith works.

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES About 49 per cent tribal houses in the State do not have toilets. As many as 24,289 families do

not hold ration cards. Hundreds of graduates and post graduates among the tribal communities are job less.

A survey conducted by the Kerala Institute of Local Administration in association with local bodies and the Scheduled Tribe Welfare Department reveals pathetic living conditions of the Scheduled Tribe Communities in the State.

There are 33 Scheduled Tribe communities in the State. Of the 40,1401-strong tribal population, ‘Panian’ community is the largest.

The total population of the five primitive tribal groups – Koraga, Kattunayakan, Cholanaikan, Kurumba and Kadar – is 26,273.

There 4614 landless tribal families in the State. More than 55 per cent live in dilapidated houses. In all, 39,850 houses do not have kitchen and 49 percent does not have toilets.

Half of the population deprived of pure drinking water and 1252 tribal hamlets are not electrified. More than 1300 tribal settlements face threat from wild animals.

The survey shows that there are 887 unwed mothers and 20,301 widows among ST women. Only 17 per cent of them are getting pension.

Many of the families do not have any access to medical care. Among them 4,036 are differently-abled and 2386 are mentally-challenged. The community has 40,323 chronic patients.

The literacy rate among the scheduled tribes is 72.77. Most of them used to drop out from schools at the primary level itself. Poverty and lack of access to educational institutions are the major reasons.

According to the survey, 77,680 people in the age group of 15-59 are unemployed. This includes 2112 graduates, 200 postgraduates and 2066 with professional qualifications.

Almost half the population of the community has taken loans, mostly from private institutions or individual money lenders.

The survey started in 2008 was completed in October 2011.

Land Alienation:

The history of land alienation among the tribes began during British colonialism in India when the British interfered in the tribal region for the purpose of exploiting the tribal natural resources. Coupled with this tribal lands were occupied by moneylenders, zamindars and traders by advancing them loans etc. Opening of mines in the heart of tribal habitat and even a few factories provided wage labor as well as opportunities for factory employment. But this brought increasing destitution and displacement. After the British came to power, the Forest policy of the British Government was more inclined towards commercial considerations rather than human. Some forests were declared as reserved ones where only authorized contractors were allowed to cut the timber and the forest -dwellers were kept isolated deliberately within their habitat without any effort to ameliorate their economic and educational standards. The expansion of railway in India heavily devastated the forest resources in India. The Government started reserving teak, Sal and deodar forests for the manufacture of railway sleepers. Forest land and its resources provide the best means of livelihood for the tribal people and many tribes including the women engage in agriculture, food gathering and hunting they are heavily dependent on the products of the forest. Therefore when outsiders exploit the tribe's land and its resources the natural life cycle of tribal ecology and tribal life is greatly disturbed.

Poverty and IndebtednessMajority tribes live under poverty line. The tribes follow many simple occupations based on simple technology. Most of the occupation falls into the primary occupations such as hunting, gathering, and agriculture. The technology they use for these purposes belong to the most primitive kind. There is no profit and surplus making in such economy. Hence there per capita income is very meager much lesser than the Indian average. Most of them live under abject poverty and are in debt in the hands of local moneylenders and Zamindars.In order to repay the debt they often mortgage or sell their land to the moneylenders. Indebtedness is almost inevitable since heavy interest is to be paid to these moneylenders.

Health and NutritionIn many parts of India tribal population suffers from chronic infections and diseases out of which water borne diseases are life threatening. They also suffer from deficiency diseases. The Himalayan tribes suffer from goiter due to lack of iodine. Leprosy and tuberculosis are also common among them. Infant mortality was found to be very high among some of the tribes. Malnutrition is common and has affected the general health of the tribal children as it lowers the ability to resist infection, leads to chronic illness and sometimes leads to brain impairment. The ecological imbalance like cutting of trees have increased the distances between villages and the forest areas thus forcing tribal women to walk longer distances in search of forest produce and firewood.

EducationEducationally the tribal population is at different levels of development but overall the formal education has made very little impact on tribal groups. Earlier Government had no direct programme for their education. But in the subsequent years the reservation policy has made some changes. There are many reasons for low level of education among the tribal people: Formal education is not considered necessary to discharge their social obligations. Superstitions and myths play an important role in rejecting education. Most tribes live in abject poverty. It is not easy for them to send their children to schools, as they are considered extra helping hands. The formal schools do not hold any special interest for the children. Most of the tribes are located in interior and remote areas where teachers would not like to go from outside.

Cultural ProblemsDue to contact with other cultures, the tribal culture is undergoing a revolutionary change. Due to influence of Christian missionaries the problem of bilingualism has developed which led to indifference towards tribal language. The tribal people are imitating western culture in different aspects of their social life and leaving their own culture. It has led to degeneration of tribal life and tribal arts such as dance, music and different types of craft.

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