The Tribal Development Programme and Its Impact on Sitheri Hills

International Journal of Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Vol.11, No. 3, (2020), pp. 2648–2653

The Tribal Development Programme And Its Impact On Sitheri Hills 1Mr.A.Yogeswaran, Ph.D., Research scholar, Department of History, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar. 2Dr.K.Govindaraj, Assistant professor, Department of History, Thiru A.Govindaswamy Govt Arts College, Tindivanam.

Abstract Tribes have been renowned as aboriginals, primitives, uncivilised, vulnerable group and tribes. The anthropological, linguistic studies revealed the significance of the Tribes. Indeed, Tribals were in habituated in forests or hilly regions. Due to modernisation or globalisation, they never tried to migrate to their place to urban areas. They desire to live their own traditional way of life. If any circumstances they move to urban areas, they live tentatively and return back to their own place as earliest. Being a marginalised community were lacking of poor health, education, hygiene, economy, job opportunity trying to develop them. At present, the tribal population were settled only in rural background. On the consequences, both the central and state Government of Tamil Nadu has made several measures in the form of programmes and schemes.Malayalis are the largest tribal group of constituting around 47.6 percent of Scheduled Tribes population in Tamil Nadu. Perhaps, Tamil Nadu has consisted second largest tribal population in Tamil Nadu, next to Andhra Pradesh. At present, there are 36 tribal communities who lived in Tamil Nadu. Above them, six tribes were listed as primitive tribes. Historically, they are believed to came from Kanchipuram and settled the hills like pachaimalai, kollimalai and sherveroyan hills.. This study had made an attempt how the schemes and programmes have change the life and livelihood of the Tribes in Tamil Nadu, especially in Sitheri Hills. Keywords: Primitive tribes, Tribal development programme, modernisation, globalisation, marginalised community. 1. First Author 2.Research Supervisor

Introduction Tribes have been renowned as aboriginals, primitives, uncivilised, vulnerable group and tribes. The anthropological, linguistic studies revealed the significance of the Tribes. Indeed, Tribals were in habituated in forests or hilly regions. Due to modernisation or globalisation, they never tried to migrate to their place to urban areas. They desire to live their own traditional way of life. If any circumstances they move to urban areas, they live tentatively and return back to their own place as earliest. Being a marginalised community were lacking of poor health, education, hygiene, economy, job opportunity trying to develop them. At present, the tribal population were settled only in rural background. On the consequences, both the central and state Government of Tamil Nadu has made several measures in the form of programmes and schemes. The diverse of social, economic, and cultural patterns combined with the differential group size and scattered nature of the tribes make the development plans for the tirbals in Tamil Nadu a difficult task. This study had made an attempt how the schemes and programmes have change the life and livelihood of the Tribes in Tamil Nadu, especially in Sitheri Hills.

Sitheri Hills Sitheri hills is situated inrange of eastern Ghats, pappirettipatti taluk, in Dharmapuri. Thesitheri hills having 65 villages, located south-east and north-east area. The majority of the people are Malayali tribes. Malayali tribes might be largest tribals in India. The hill zone village are along the vaimadurai, kottai,kural, chakkami, alaiyura, erumankada, kaland, sellur, ammapalayam, and nambur and other portion of the mullikadu, tadampatti, Lambadi thanda, sittilingi. Perhaps, Malayalis have been settled all over the district in Tamil Nadu, especiallay, Dharamapuri, Villlupuram and Vellore district. Malalayali Malalaylis are the largest tribal group of constituting around 47.6 percent of Scheduled Tirbes population in Tamil Nadu. Pehaps, Tamil Nadu has consisted second largest tribal population in Tamil Nadu, next to Andhra Pradesh. At present, There are 36 tribal communities who lived in Tamil Nadu. Above them, six tribes were listed as primitive tribes. Historically, they are believed to came from kanchipuram and settled the hills like pachaimalai, kolllimalai and sherveroyan hills. Due to the cause of pandemic, war, famine, occupation, they migrated from the kancheepuram to sitheri hills. Not only they are settled in sitheri hills also in and around the hills of eastern Ghats. The diverse social, economic and cultural pattern combined with the differential group size and scattered nature of the tribes make the development plans for the tribals in Tamil Nadu a difficult task. Hence, the tribals face several problem s during in the life and livelihood. Tribals in Tamil Nadu Scheduled tribes are usually found in hilly areas. Tamil Nadu s not very hilly with forest areas, except for NorthArcot, Salem, Dharmapuri, Nilgiris and Chengalpattu districts.Hence these districts are having a higher population of the scheduled tribes. Almost all districts are having scheduled tribes population. A large tribe is found in the hilly areas of Salem (Attur, Rasipuram and Namakkal Taluk), north Arcot and Dharmapuri districts. The Malayalis form the major tribal community of Tamilnadu- 51.183 (1971). Irular, the second important scheduled tribe of the State is found in all northern and western districts of the State - 28.58 (1971), followed by Kurumans 3.62%, Sholaga 2.67%, Paniyan 1.96%, Kattunayakan1.62%,Pulayan 1.38%, Palliyan 1%, Malasar 0.91%, Kurumbas 0.88% andothers6.20% (1971). Tribal development initiatives The tribal developmental activities in India are in operation right from the end part of British administration and have gained importance when India became free. India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had a great concern on the tribes of India. He said that the tribes should be developed in their own generous and avoids the imposition of anything in the name of development. In one of his speeches addressing tribes in Madhya Pradesh in 1955, he said whenever you live; you should live in your own way. This is what I want you to decide yourselves. How would you like to live? Your old customs and habits are god. We want they should survive but at the same time we want that you should be educated and you should do your part in the welfare of our country. India’s National Leaders. Social Scientists and Philosophers felt that the tribals of India are part and parcel of Indian; therefore, they are to be integrated into the mainstream of Indian culture. The constitution which was adopted by India, provide many safeguards to the tribes of India, to protect them from all form of exploitation, to protect their culture and to uplift their economic conditions. It is well accepted fact, that the tribes of India by and large are backward in the fields of social, economic and education, when com- pared with the rest of the population. The Government of India and the State Governments have planned quite a good number of welfare and development programmes and were implemented to improve the socio-economic status of the tribes. In spite of money in crores spent on tribal development, considerable development has not been witnessed in their development. Many 2649 ISSN: 2005-4289 IJDRBC Copyright ⓒ2020 SERSC International Journal of Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Vol.11, No. 3, (2020), pp. 2648–2653 approaches were employed to uplift the socio-economic conditions of the tribes. Mention may be made that Verger Elwin in 1959 advocated the 'isolation approach, to keep the tribals as Museum Specimen by establishing 'National Park' or human zoo. This was to avoid exploitation by the General Public, and to keep the tribal culture undisturbed. This approach attracted criticism from many quarter of the society and later Elwin himself accepted the idea of tribal development. It is well accepted fact, that the tribes of India by and large are backward in the fields of social, economic and education, when com- pared with the rest of the population. The Government of India and the State Governments have planned quite a good number of welfare and development programmes and were implemented to improve the socio-economic status of the tribes. In spite of money in crores spent on tribal development, considerable development has not been witnessed in their development. Many approaches were employed to uplift the socio-economic conditions of the tribes. Mention may be made that Verger Elwin in 1959 advocated the 'isolation approach, to keep the tribals as Museum Specimen by establishing 'National Park' or human zoo. This was to avoid exploitation by the General Public, and to keep the tribal culture undisturbed. This approach attracted criticism from many quarter of the society and later Elwin himself accepted the idea of tribal development. This was to assimilate tribals with rest of the population through cultural contact with the neighbouring people, advocated by many Indian Anthropologists. This facilitated Anthropologists to take up studies on the tribes who are at different levels of assimilation and classified tribes into various categories such as Primitive, Most Primitive, Hinduism and Christianized, etc. Finally, Anthropologists, Social Thinkers, Social Reformers and Political Leaders have come forward to use 'integrated approach' by combining the skills of all concerned for improving the socio-economic life of the tribes, thereby integrating tribes into the mainstream of Indian culture, as Indians known for ‘Unity in Diversity’. All these approaches have not achieved much improvement in the socio-economic status of tribal people. The study area Shetheri hill have many more small streams are origin .Analmaduv, Piliyara, Karkampatti, Varatta, Kovil, Kallar and Uppar streams are drain in the Chittrai hill zone. The major river system is Varatta River flowing in the central portion of the study area. Kovil river, Uppar River flowing in the North and southern portion of the Shetheri hill. The land utilization of the any land is based on the soil characteristic with their texture, productivity, and capability. From the study area major soil groups are Brown reddish, sandy, with hill soils. The major land utilization of the basin is water, canalization through various methods and approaches. The major land use Build up land the Valimadurai, Kottaikuttal, Chakkami, Alaiyur,Erumankadal, Kaland, Sellur, Ammapalayam, and Nanbur and other portion of the Mullikadu, Tadampatti, Lambadi thanda, Sittilingi .Agriculture activities being in the entire study area Aboriginal people of the study area called Malayali's are the inhabitants of Sherveroyan hill ranges of Salem, Dharmapuri, Villupuram and Vellore districts. Malayali's are the largest tribal group constituting 47.6% of ST population in the state of Tamilnadu. It is claimed that they are descents of Vellalas of Kancheepuram and following invasion they fled to Sherveroyan Hill ranges (ii) Animal Husbandry: Up to March 1986, 2,698 milk animals, 3.868 work bullocks. 5,669 sheep units have been distributed to 12,239 tribal beneficiaries. Under the animal husbandry scheme adequate attention has been paid to provide health cover to these animals. Up to March 1986, nine Veterinary Dispensaries, 9 Frozen Semen Centres and 6 Sub Centres have been opened in the tribal sub-plan areas. As the tribals bullocks from non-tribals at exorbitant rates, bullocks are being supplied to the tribals and for that 3,868 bullocks have been supplied to the tribals up to March 1986. (iii) Forestry:

The forestry programme consists mainly of distribution of various kinds of seedlings to the tribals, at subsidised cost. Constructions of quarters for the staff working in these areas have also been taken up.

(iv)Minor Irrigation: Under minor irrigation scheme, so far 94 minor irrigation works have been taken up which consisted mainly of construction of check-dams and percolation ponds. Out of 94 works,89 works have been completed. Benefiting and a cut of 1,539 hectares and 5 works are likely to be completed very shortly. (v) Communication: The tribal habitations are all situated in totally inaccessible areas. Therefore, the major concern of State Government has been to open up communications to the tribal areas. In this connection the State Government had so far taken up 26 road works to the length of 380 km at a cost of Rs. 1497.69 lakhs have been sanctioned, of these 12 works have been completed at a cost of Rs. 349.51 lakhs at a length or 138 km. (vi)Village Industries: Under the Village Industries programme, beehives are supplied to the tribals at subsidised rates. During 1982-83, three sub units of the Khadi and Village Industries Board were started in Kolli Hills and in Kalrayan Hills of Salem District and in Jawadhi Hills and sitherihills of North Arcot District. A tamarind Fruit Processing Unit at Jawadhi Hills has been sanctioned and will continue to function during the year 1987-88. (vii) Sericulture: Under sericulture, 2,025 tribals have been benefited up to 31 March 1986, augment their earning capacities. This scheme is becoming increasingly popular with the tribals in the sub-plan areas. ' (viii) Education: It is open that the imparting proper education to the tribals has sustained the economic development of tribals. Considering this point in mind 100 Government Tribal Residential Schools have been opened in the Sub-Plan areas which cater to the educational needs of the tribal children of school going age by giving free boarding and lodging facilities. (ix) Health: With a view to make the tribals understand the importance of their health and nutrition needs and to render proper health care, so far 14 Government Dispensaries and 73 Sub-Centres are functioning inclusive of Health Sub- Centres run by DANIDA. Besides two Mobile Medical Units have been set up one at in the sitheri Hills of Dharumapuri District (x) Social Welfare: Under the social welfare programme 169 pre-schools are functioning in the Tribal Sub-Plan areas and 4 tailoring centres have been started in Kalrayan, Kolli, Yercaud and sitheri Hills which train 65 tribal women every year. Under primitive tribes programme, 47 pre. schools have been opened.

(xi) Electricity:

As far as rural electrification is concerned, up to 1985-86, electrification has been completed for 101hamlets in the tribal sub-plan areas. In addition, electrification of 22 villages and 6 villages has been completed by the Electricity Board and Rural Electrification Corporation during the year 1986-87. Again nearly 10 villages have been provided street lights by Solar Photo Voltaic System and4 villages are also inhabited. Besides this, one hamlet in Sitheri hills Dharmapuri District was electrified in June 1986 and works in respect of 6 hamlets in Tiruchirapalli District are in progress. (xiii) Drinking Water: There are 1,114 Tribal habitations in the Sub-Plan areas. Of this 345 habitations have adequate water supply and the remaining 769 habitations require water supply. Up to 1985-86 sanction was accorded to provide drinking water facilities to 598 habitations. Out of this 571 hamlets had been provided with drinking water facilities. During 1986-87, sanction has been accorded for providing drinking water supply facilities to 85 habitations in the Integrated Tribal Development Project areas of Salem, North Arcot, Dbarmapuri and Tiruchirapalli districts. Out of which, works on 5 habitations have been completed up to 30 Nov. 1986. (xiii) Co-operation: In the field of credit and marketing, 17 LAMP Co-operative Societies have been started in the state and one more LAMP Co-operative Society has also been ordered to be started during 1987.88 in the Sub-Plan areas. Up to the end of June 1987, 33,996tribal families and 5,741 non-tribal families have been covered by LAMP Co-operative Societies by providing a package of services for their economic upliftment. (xiv) Rural Housing: For the purpose of providing suitable housing facilities to the tribals in the Tribal sub-plan areas, number of houses has been constructed adopting the design approved by the Rural Housing Scheme. Up to 1985, sanction was accorded for the construction of 250 houses in the Tribal sub-plan areas in the State. On the other side the tribals in all the ITDP areas are also being covered by the Community Development Programme, Integrated Rural Development Programme and National Rural Employment Programme in addition to the Tribal sub-plan schemes initiating a process of On the whole the percentage of tribal population to total population in the Tribal sub-plan Areas (ITDPs) in Tamil Nadu is more in Salem District than in the other districts viz., ranged from 50.53 per cent in Aranuthamalai to 95.06 % in the Kolli hills. Also, maximum of Tribal sub-plans are being implemented in the above district on account of more tribal concentration. (3) Tribal Sub Plan Projects Tamil Nadu. The Integrated Tribal Development Programmes has been envisaged as the total development in the identified Tribal sub-plan areas with the help of resources pooled from the better plan. Central and centrally sponsored schemes, special central assistance and institutional finance. An ITDPs are bearing prepared arid implementation in Tribal sub-plan areas in narrow the 8ap between the level of development of tribals and on the as well as to improve the quality or life of the tribal communities. Among the immediate objective, ITDPs have been introduced will be a view to climate all type of exploitation’s, spending the process for social and economic development, buildings up inner straight or the tribal people and improving their organisational capabilities Like other States. In Tamil Nadu the funds are pooled in emaciated Tribal Development projects areas from the State plan. Central and centrally, promoted schemes, special Central assistance and institutional finance so as to ensure that optimal benefices rich the tribals. The details of total tribal sub-plan and expenditure in the State during According of the tribal sub plan is cause increased from year to year with a view la bring the hitherto unprivileged classes to the mainstream of socio- economic life in the State. For instance, the outlay for ITDP under tribal sub-plan was increased for, Rs. 101.82 lakhs, 1976-77 to Rs. 973.55 Iakhs in 1987-88. Which have registered about tenfold increase of the total for tribal development in the State. It may also be noted that percentage or tribals

Conclusion On the one hand, the four decades of planning in India have resulted in overall development of infrastructures, economic growth and improvement in the quality of life. On the other hand, illiteracy, ignorance, poverty, unemployment, etc., are still at large and affect a large chunk of population. The increase in population, existing socio-economic conditions and lack of political will, further complicate the prospect of improving the quality of life for all. Tribals in general and in particular those living in Tamil Nadu are the most affected groups. The constitutional safeguards and concessions should continue with a renewed effort towards improving the quality of life. Emphasis should be on providing a conductive environment to meet the various basic human needs, satisfying material and psycho-social aspects (food, water, energy, shelter, health, education, and recreation. The indicators of the satisfaction of human needs would show the extent to which development agencies are distributing their resources and thus raising the level of human quality of life. Care should be taken to reduce the dependency on development agencies by putting emphasis on the self-sufficiency at the individual and family level. For obtaining the involvement of the tribals, the traditional rights over the land, water and forest resources should be given due importance. It is only through their cooperation it would be possible to find alternative means for improving the living conditions. References 1. Alexander, K.C., "Bonded Labour System: Government Measures for its Abolition." Man in India, Vol. 59(2): 153-70.1979 2. Census of India, 1971 Census Atlas, Tamil Nadu. Series 19. Part-IX, Madras: Government Press. 1971 3. Twenty-ninth Report of the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes 1987-89, New Delhi. 1990 4. Basic data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of Tamil Nadu Office of the Director for SC and ST, Madras-6 (unpublished report), 1990 5. Annual Tribal Sub-Plan (1989-90) Office of the Director for SC and ST, Madras-6 (unpublished report), 6. Thurston, Edgar, Castes and Tribes of Southern India Madras: Government Press 1909 7. K .V. Narayanan, Tribals in Rural Development Kurushetra, New Delhi 1985 8. Thirunavukkarasu, Strategy for Integrated Rural Development: A Study in a South Arcot Village, Social Science Digest, Vol. IV 1986 9. S.Gopalakrishnan, Census of India, New Delhi, 2011. 10. Report of the commissioner for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes Twenty-sixth Report 1978-1979, Part I, New Delhi, 1980. 11. Shiva Tosh Das, Life Style ,Indian Tribes,Gyan publishing House, 1989. 12. Shashi, SS, Encyclopedia of Indian Tribes, Anmol publications, New Delhi, 1994. 13. ChaturbhunjSahu, Primitive Tribes of India, Sarup& sons, New Delhi, 1999. 14. A. Aiyappan, Report on the Socio-Economic conditions of the aboriginal tribes of the province of Madras, Madras, 1948. 15. C.SubbhuRamanuja, Development programs and social Transformation, New Delhi, 2006. 16. Hasan Amir, Land reforms in Tribal Areas and its consequences, Lucknow, 1982.