The International journal of analytical and experimental modal analysis ISSN NO: 0886-9367

A STUDY ON THE STATUS OF UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG MUDUGA TRIBE IN ATTAPPADI, .

1. A.Bhuvaneswari, Research Scholar, Department of Sociology, Periyar University, Salem.

2. DR.RM.Muthu, Assistant professor, Department of Sociology, Madurai Kamaraj University. Madurai.

To study theprevalence of unemployment among the Muduga tribe in Attappadi, study was carried out in Attappadi Valley in puthurPanchayat for one week among 206 purposively selected respondents aged 19-40 years. The informed consent was obtained from the study subjects before the conduction of the study. The Primary data was collected with house hold survey, individual interaction, small group discussions, and discussions with community. The prevalence of unemployment was more among the Muduga tribe. It is oblivious that seasonal employment was major among Mudugas, which gives less income. So the livelihood cannot be maintained. This particular situation makes them to lead a poor life. Hence concentration should be paid on this Muduga tribe to eradicate from starvation and make more people to get employment opportunities and make their livelihood to be feasible and improvement of education is must for their employment.

INTRODUCTION:

Tribals in Kerala are indigenous people found in southern Indian state of Kerala.Most of the tribal people of Kerala live in the midst of forests and mountains of bordering Karnataka and . There are more than 50 tribal communities in parts of Kerala. Tribal people who are food-gatherers (without any habit of agricultural practice), with diminishing population and very low or little literacy rates can be called as primitive tribes. There are five primitive tribes in Kerala who constitute nearly 5% of the total tribal population in the

state. Mudugas is the indigenous people living inAttappadivalley which is suitated between Annakatti and .Irulars, Mudugas and Kurumbas are the three distinct tribes of Attappadi. These three tribes live in three different panchayats in Attappadi namely, Agali, Pudur and Sholayur.Mudugas is the second largest tribal community in Attappadi.

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World Bank (2010) ’s labour force makes up about thirty nine per cent of the total population. According to the World Bank, the Indian labour market in the 1990s was better, despite acceleration in job growth in subsequent years. These conclusions are based on three main facts: (i) a comparison of job growth over two decades - that is, 1983-1994 and 1994-2005 - suggests that job growth was flat at 2 per cent over the long term; (ii) the spurt in employment since 2000 has been accompanied by a marked deceleration in real wage growth and even a decline for many workers, implying that the number of working poor has increased in the past five years; and (iii) low-paying, relatively unproductive, informal sector jobs continue to dominate the labour market.

The Planning Commission of the Government of India (GOI), in its 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012), also concludes that the Indian economy has failed to create sufficient volume of additional high-quality employment to absorb the new entrants into the labour market. It has also failed to facilitate the absorption of existing surplus labour into the agriculture sector, as also into higher wage or non-agriculture employment (Planning Commission 2008).

Ghandially (1988) the most extreme deprivation exists among women in the scheduled caste and tribe populations, groups designated as particularly disadvantaged in the Indian Constitution. The minority group status of these women interacts with India's patriarchal culture to produce deplorable living conditions.

Bhai (1986); Mitra (1979). The government of India views basic literacy as well as more advanced educational credentials as the necessary firststeps toward the attainment of rewarding positions in the economy and a higher standard of living for disadvantaged segments of the population.

Situation of Mudugatribes in Attappadi:

The total population of Muduga tribe in Attappadi according to 2011 was 7384. Muduga tribe has been distributed in three different panchayats. In AgaliPanchayat, Muduga tribe is around

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6531. The total population in Puthurpanchayat,is about 814 and in Sholayur, only a few of Muduga tribes are living.

Muduga Tribes in PuthurPanchayatare taken to analyse the problems of unemployment. In Puthurpanchayat there are five hamlets namely, MeleAbbanur (93), Veettiyur (80), Anakkallu (208), Pottikkal(127) and ThazheAbbanur(306).

The major problems of the Muduga tribes in PuthurPanchayat(MeleAbbanur, Veettiyur, Anakkallu, PottikkalandThazheAbbanur)are lower level of literacy, prevalence of malnutrition, unemployment,low level of economic status, lack of transport facility and no access to forest or forest products.

The plight of unemployment makes their life miserable. So very few are moving to other place in search of livelihood. When those few people move to other places for employment they are exploited by influx and they are reluctant to work.An urgent need was felt to identify areas of employment.So the study was proposed to identify areas and scope of employment.

Objectives of the study: 1. To know the unemployment status of respondents between 18-40 years.

2.To understand their hurdles in the seeking out their livelihood.

Research Methods

Primary data is collected with house hold survey, individual interaction, small group discussions, and discussions with community.

The study is restricted to five hamlets in Puthurpanchayat. The villages coming under pudurpanchayat are, MeleAbbanur, Veettiyur, Anakkallu ,Pottikkal and ThazheAbbanur.

A purposive sampling is used for the study. The criteria for the selection of place and respondents for the survey are as follows.

1. Villages with tribal dominant in PuthurPanchayat alone.

2. Youth in the age group of 19-40 years.

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Location and description of villages about their status of employment:

MeleAbbanur:

MeleAbbanur is situated on the western bank of river Bhavani in the midst of the dense forest;it is 5 km away from Thavalam.It consists of 26 households with 26 families and total population in hamlet was 93. Among 93 respondents 26 respondents were selected on basis of age criteria mentioned in the objectives.

The distribution of selected respondents in their employment status is as follows:

Among 26respondents 4 were scrupulous in pursuing their graduation. They are staying away from their hamlet and studying in hostel. 2 respondents alone by exposing their skills engaged in permanent jobs. 16 respondents were made them to be occupied in agriculture and traditional activities. Employment in agriculture is a seasonal and it is not a permanent one. So the respondents who are concentrating in agriculture are to be in starvation. The remaining 4 respondents are working as auto driver, lorry cleaner, tailoring etc...

.ThazheAbbannur:

ThazeAbbanur is situated on the little top of hill and interior in the forest among the muduga hamlets.And to reach the village we have to cross river Bhavani and walk for more than 7 kilometers from Thavalam.It is not easy for the new comer to reach the place. So stranger cannot reach ThazheAbbannurwithout the assistance of ITDP in Agali. It consists of 68 households with 68 families and total population in the village was 306. Out of 306 respondents, 80 respondents were selected for the Study.

Among selected 80 respondents 4 people are going for their graduation by staying in the hostel. Five respondents are occupied in permanent job. So they can able to meet their expenses from their earnings and lead a normal life. Six people are engaged in outside labour. Five people are engaged in cattle rearing. Rest 60 respondents are engaged in agriculture and other traditional activities. Those who are engaged in agriculture most probably will be of seasonal employees. And in rest of the days they have to spend their days jobless. So it is not easy for them to spend their daily expenses.

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Anakkallu:

Anakkallu is located in the top of Veetiyur. It is 3 kilometer away from Thavalam. It consists of 49 households with 49 families and total population is 208.Out of 208 populations 45 respondents were selected for the study on age criteria.

Among 45 respondents, 2 respondents are doing their graduation. 3 respondents were engaged in outside labour.2 respondents were engaged in outside labour. 38 respondents were engaged in agriculture and other traditional activities like collecting honey, other medicinal plants etc. In agriculture activities employment will not be of permanent it will be of occasional. So during other days they are under starvation. They are suffering even to lead their normal life.

Pottikkal:

Pottikal is located 3 Kilometer away from Kalkandi. It is 2 kilometer away from Kalkandy. We can reach by crossing the riverBhavani from Kalkandi. It consists of 34 households with 34 families and total population is about 127 peoples. And out of 127 populations 35 respondents were between ages of 19 – 40 years. From 35 respondents 4 respondents are going for their graduation. 2 respondents are occupied with permanent job. Rest of 29 respondents are going for seasonal agriculture work and engaged in collecting forest minor products like non-timber products and sell them in nearby market and meet their expenses. But most of the people are taking only a two square meal a day. They are jobless and unoccupied in daily life, this scenario made them to be involved in taking liquor. So tranquillity in the family has become challenging part of them.

Veettiyur:

Veettiyuris close to Thavalamand it is 2 kilometre away from takeThavalam. All the Muduga tribal hamlets in PudurPanchayat enjoy the stream of river Bhavani. They take water from river Bhavanifor their daily use. Veettiyurconsists of 17 households with 17 families and with the population of 80. Out of 80 respondents 20 were matched with the selection criteria.

The distribution of respondents based on the employment status is as follows;

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From 20 respondents two respondents are doing their higher education. Two respondents are occupied with permanent job. 2 respondents are engaged in two wheeler mechanical shop in nearby place Thavalam. Rest of 14 respondents are dependent on seasonal agricultural work and minor non-timber forest products collection. So the majority of the respondents selected for the study struggles with the problem of unemployment and has poor quality of life.

Obstacles in seeking proper employment and self-employment:

Lack of dedication and determination among the Muduga tribal youth:

In the contemporary world, Youth generally enrich their education and develop their skills and establish them with in the area of their interest. This attitude is seen to be less among the Muduga tribe.Because, they have less interest in self development.This may be due to the traditional way of living. So these tribe should be nurtured with the existing scenario of the world and make them to set their goals and succeed in it.

Low standard of youth/education:

Low standard of education is the other cause for the obstacles in employment. Only a few teachers in the tribal school know the language of tribals. So language is another barrier for them to understand.

Lack of awareness about the available courses in colleges:

They possess less knowledge about the offered courses in the colleges. So the awareness about the different courses should be created to them. So they can able to choose the course accordingly and market them in employment. And they do not have knowledge on bank loan for education. These reasons are reacting as the hurdles in seeking proper employment.

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CONCLUSION:

It is clear from the study that majority of the respondents are engaged in agricultural occupation. So the implied meaning of agriculture employment is seasonal employment. It is oblivious that seasonal employment will give less income so the livelihood cannot be maintained. This particular situation makes them to lead a poor life. So concentration should be paid on this Muduga tribe to eradicate from starvation and make more people to get employment opportunities and make their livelihood to be feasible.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Career guidance centres can be established at panchayat level.

2. News paper and magazines can be provided in the community hall of each hamlet.

3. Youth club can be established in hamlets and panchayats to develop the personality.

4. Different skill developing trainings can be established at hamlet andpanchayat.

REFFERENCE:

DigambarKangule,Mohan Darbastwar, PrasanthnKokiwar(2011). A Cross Sectional Study of Prevalence of Subatance use and its determinants among male tribal youths.International Journal Pharm BiomedSciences. 2(3), 61-64.

Kadam. R., N.(2013). Women Entrepreneurs in SSIs in Karnataka-A Study of Hubli- Dharwad City.International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research.1(11)-73-76.

Shivanna. T and Ravindranath, Kadam, A. (2018). UnemploymentAmong SC's AND ST's in India:need for special care. International Conferrence on New Horizons in Science, Engineering and Management and Humanities.

Subhani S. Study on Status of Unemployment of Tribal youth. Association For Social And Humanize Action (Asha), (Regd No: 2893/94) http://ashashubhani.com.

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