A Study of Kaadar Tribe in Vaalpaarai

A STUDY OF KAADAR TRIBE IN

VAALPAARAI

SPONSORED BY

STATE PLANNING COMMISSION,

TAMIL NADU

STUDY CONDUCTED BY

REEDA (Rural Educational and Economic

Development Association) 141, Avvai shanmugam Salai,

Gopalapuram, Chennai. Ph. 044-28111023

[email protected]

A Study of Kaadar Tribe in Vaalpaarai

A study done under the ageis of State Planning Commission, Government of Tamil Nadu, to gauge the Educational standards, income and make appropriate recommendations for providing at least one entrepreneurship activity to each of those families of Kaadar, which is dwindling down drastically over the years TABLE OF CONTENT

CONTENTS i

LIST OF TABLES iii

LIST OF FIGURES iii

CHAPTER – I

INTRODUCTION 1

KAADAR IN TAMIL NADU 1

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION 2

KAADAR PATHIES– LOCATION DISADVANTAGES 4

CHAPTER – II

INTRODUCTION 6

PEOPLE OF ANAMALAIS 6

KADARS 7

POPULATION STATUS OF HILL PEOPLE 8

EDUCATION STATUS 9

HEALTH STATUS 10

EMPLOYMENT STATUS 10

CHAPTER – III

AIM OF THE RESEARCH 12

OBJECTIVES 12

METHODOLOGY OF STUDY 13

SAMPLING 14

DATA COLLECTION PERIOD 15

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY 15

CHAPTERIZATION 15

CHAPTER – IV

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 16-23

CHAPTER – V

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS 24-25

POTENTIALS 24

VULNERABILITIES 25

RECOMMENDATIONS 26-30

SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VAALPAARAI KAADAR 27

OTHER FEASIBILITY FOR JOBS FOR KAADAR AND OTHER TRIBES 28

ONE JOB FOR EACH KAADAR FAMILY 28

SUGGESTIONS 31-32

PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY CARE 31

0-5 YEARS CHILD CARE CENTERS 32

ANNEXURES 33-39

ANNEXURE I 33-36

QUESTIONNAIRE 1 33

QUESTIONNAIRE 2 35

ANNEXURE II 37-39

SUB-GROUP WISE ST POPULATION 37

APPENDIX

IMAGES 40-43

REFERENCES 44

LIST OF TABLES

Sl.No. Title P.No. 1 Tribes with population of less than 700 2

2 Population status of Hill people 9

LIST OF FIGURES

Sl.No. Title P.No. 1 Pathies on the Sample Data 16 2 Death Proportion at Pathies 17 3 Proportion of Children in the Families 18 4 Education of Male and Female 19 5 Education of Male 20 6 Education of Female 21 7 Monthly Income of Families 22 8 Laborers Participation in kind of Work 23

iii

CHAPTER – I

INTRODUCTION CHAPTER - I

INTRODUCTION

Tribes in Tamil Nadu constitute hardly 1% of the total population. Therefore political sensitivity towards Tribes has taken a backseat. Besides the political space, development discourses on Tribal growth have picked up only recently. A replete of Anthropological studies, though is available. This study attempts a deviation from this trend to study the potentials and possibilities for growth of Tribes in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu can proudly claim to have pioneered Tribal Education since Independence. Large numbers of Tribal Residential schools were established since the 1950s. However higher education is reaching these Tribes only recently. In order to converge tribal growth in higher education, more focused schemes need to be launched. With this intention a micro level study of one small tribal community, viz. Kaadar has been identified by the project proponents.

KAADAR IN TAMIL NADU

Tamil Nadu is home to 36 Scheduled Tribes (See Annexure II). Tribes in Tamil Nadu are scattered across Tamil Nadu. Much of the concentration occurs in terms of number of distinct tribes in Western Ghats and in terms of population size in Broken Hills of Eastern Ghats and adjoining plains. Tribal Population in Tamil Nadu is small, compared to other states, i.e., less than 1% of the total population in the state. Out of the 36 Schedule Tribes, 13 tribes have less than 700 persons. The table below lists the 13 tribes with less than 700 persons, in the order of least to the highest. Kaadar, as per census 2011, has a population of just 475.

Table No. 01

Tribes with population of less than 700 S. No. Name of the Tribe Population 1 KochuVelan 7 2 Kudiya, Melakudi 66 3 MahaMalasar 77 4 Koraga 106 5 Aranadan 138 6 MalaiArayan 172 7 Malaya Kandi 210 8 Mannan 277 9 Pallayan 256 10 Kota (Kothar) 310 11 Muthuvan 385 12 Konda kapus 521 13 Kaadar 650 Total 3175

Source: Census of India 2011.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

There are three groups of Kadar living in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Kadar who use the Kadar language live primarily in the hill-forests of Vaalpaarai Taluk and Aanamalai Hills of Pollachi, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu; and Palakkad and Thrissur hills, Kerala. A second group lives in Wayanad District and use Malayalam.

A third Kadar (Kadir) group is in Tiruchirapalli and Tanjavur districts. The latter two groups have nothing in common with those living on the hills of Western Ghats.

In Tamil Nadu, in Western Ghats, Kadar are found living in Aanaimalai Hills in Vaalparai Taluk, Coimbatore District. Along with Kaadars, there are the other tribals (lowly in numbers) viz., 1. Muduvaar 2. Eravaalar 3. Malasar (Mahamalasar) are the other ancient Tribes living in Vaalpaarai forests from time immemorial.

Deforestation of the thick forests started a decade earlier to 1900 and continued for four to five decades. Trees were felled for providing rail-sleepers for the department of railways, through the sub-continent (India – both colonial British Raj and Independent India). Over 20,000 acres of forests were cleared and turned into Tea Estates. As of now 50 Tea Gardens exist (See Annexure for more details).

Victims of Encroachment: After the enactment of 1880 Forest Act the Tribes in forests were settled in gjp (Settlements). However, legal rights were not conferred to them in proper deeds and even if done not honored in good faith. No development inputs were taken to their doors to either cultivate the lands provided to them or market their produce. Roads to habitations are still a far cry. Drinking water, sanitation, electricity, education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities have not reached these tribals in satisfactory measures.

KAADAR PATHIES – LOCATIONAL DISADVANTAGES: Kaadars live in the following habitations, most of them requiring at least one hour walk from the town and at least half an hour to 45 minutes from the fringe of Tea-estates until where road passage is available. All the Six Kaadar tribal settlements are located in deep forests declared as sanctuaries and therefore deprived of normal roadways for travel and transport. A cursory look at 2 of the 6-Kaadars settlements give a glimpse of locational disadvantages faced by Kaadars in terms of accessing services such as education, health, banks, transportation, etc.

Nedungundram: 9-kms away from main town or 5-kms away from any of the Vaalpaarai neighborhood villages; From the village one has to walk through the forests at least 4-kms, through (tea) estate pathways, meandering through the bushes, before reaching a regular bus

4 road. Another 5-kms to reach any primary health care is available at Vaalpaarai. Any emergency need for critical care, they need to set on another long road (bus/motor) journey to Pollachi.

Udumanpaarai: One hour of steep climbing from the village/hamlet proper, almost 3-kms through rubble pathways and another 2-kms of walk through estate pathways, and then another 6 kms to reach Vaalpaarai and Pollachi; There is a history of a tribal lady walking for over 8 hours during her full pregnancy to reach the nearest hospital where she delivered on arrival. In such a tribal context ‘108’ ambulance service in its present form of a four wheeler cannot come handy, since they cannot access habitation. Moreover no mode of transport is safe for a mother in labor when it’s going to be a long and bumpy ride. Therefore, schemes appropriate to tribals needs to be conceived.

Eethakuzhy: About 6-kms away from the main town Vaalpaarai and other neighbourhood villages; one can take a vehicle upto 5-kms and then walk deep into the estates and forest terrain for another 1-kms Erumaipaarai: About a km from Top Slip Tourist spot by the side of the road at the entrance of the forest range in the neighborhoods. Kallaar, About 7-kms, from Valpaarai town, 4-kms can be covered on the roadside and forest path and climb up another 3-kms through hillock ranges, amidst the valley dividing Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Kavarkal: About 3kms from the town-Vaalpaarai and this is the only Kaadar settlement which is accessible by road as it is adjacent to the main road, as we climb down from Vaalpaarai towards Pollachi.

CHAPTER – II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE CHAPTER – II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

INTRODUCTION

The second chapter consists and explains the available literature that is related to Kaadar People, and this literature review shows the detailed data of Anamalai people. Under this Literature can know about the Kaadar Tribe’s Population in Anamalai, Educational Status, Health status and Employment status of Anamalai.

Sekar. T (2003) elaborates about Kaadar Tribe in his traced book Forest History of Anamalais, Tamil Nadu. He explains about,

PEOPLE OF ANAMALAIS

Anamalais, known for its biodiversity is also rich in anthropological diversity. With five scheduled tribe groups out of the 36 different tribal communities listed by the Tamil Nadu Government and one scheduled caste community living in 36 different settlements in the sanctuary limit, Anamalais can rightly be described as the 'anthropological reserve' of the state.

The indigenous groups living in Anamalais are the Kaadar, Malasar, Malaimalasar, Pulaiyar, Muduvar and Eravalar. Of these, the Eravalar constitute but a small minority generally restricted to foothills. The other hill tribes in contrast are spread out in different settlements, distributed over one or more ranges of the division. Each settlement or 'Pathy' as it is referred to consists of a group often or more huts, huddled together on the banks of a stream or an open glade within the forest. The huts are generally built of bamboo, the walls and roofs are thatched with grass and reed leaves. Anthropologists consider that

6 apart from the Kadar who has certain Australoid features, the rest of the hill tribes in the Anaimalais are for racial purposes indistinguishable from the plainsmen in the adjoining areas. The present differences in the social customs and the manners between the plainsmen and the tribes are believed to be the result of long period of isolation in the hills and due to the changes accrued in each community during the space of time. An anthropological account of the hill dwelling communities of Anamalais is provided here under.

KADARS The Kaadars are the most' primitive of the hill tribes in the Anamalais. They are short in stature, dark skinned with flat noses, and slightly thicker lips than those of the other hill tribes. A small percentage of Kaadars exhibit frizzly hair, a characteristic that has led some anthropologists to affiliate them with the aboriginal tribes of Australia.

Each Kadar settlement has a headman or Mooppan who is the chief of the settlement in matters of all disputes and is their spokesman to officers of the Government. The Kaadars are nomadic in nature and keep constantly shifting. They lived by hunting and collecting forest produce. Their wild diet includes succulent roots, bamboo seeds, mealy portion of seeds of Cycas, sago palm (Caryota urens). It is described that they eat deer, porcupine, field rat, monkey, python etc. in addition to sheep and fowl.

The Kaadars have a curious habit of chipping the incisor teeth to the shape of cone as they reach adolescence. 'It is said to be a painful operation, but gone through by every boy and girl with an eye to aesthetics. The Kaadars speak Tamil of a poor type, which has an admixture of Malayalam. Their marriage customs are similar to those of the Malasars. Adults only marry and by mutual consent. The family ties of the Kaadars are well developed.

The Kaadars worship dead ancestors in times of illness and before auspicious undertakings. They consider themselves to be superior to the Malasars. The primary occupation .of the Kadar is collection of forest produce. Being expert tree and rock climbers, even climbing lofty trees over 30 m with clear boles and few branches and precipitous rocks at ease, they were profitably utilized in collecting MFP, particularly honey. They had little knowledge of cultivation but formed the chief labor force for weeding, cultural operations, collection of bamboos and reeds in former days.

POPULATION STATUS OF HILL PEOPLE

With the changes in the priorities of forest management and modifications brought into their working, the avenues of avocation for the tribal in the forestry sector have really shrunk in the last 10 years or so. Therefore, their forest dependant life style and pattern of living are also undergoing invisible shifts in recent times. They are gradually moving towards land based activities with focus on 'settled agriculture'. Thus, the tribal settlements within the sanctuary have begun to be more or less permanent entities unlike in the past. A recent survey of the tribal population here provides an insight to community wise demography of the Anamalais. Pulayar is the dominant community followed by Malasars.

Table No. 02

Source: From Wilson, (1973) Working Plan for the Coimbatore South Division (1st April 1965 – 31st March 1975)

EDUCATION STATUS

The tribal groups on Anamalais, like elsewhere in the country are seen to be considerably away from the infrastructure for education. As it is widely recognized that literacy among tribal would prevent them from being used by those plundering forest wealth, the Department is taking all efforts to enroll more children from the tribal settlements in the Adi-dravidar and tribal. Residential schools run by the state Adi-dravida and Tribal Welfare Department. It is part of the 'catalytic role' of the Department to bring the tribal population to the mainstream. All the territorial rangers viz., Pollachi, Ulandy, Manambolly, Valparai, Udumalpet and Amaravathy took up this enrolment drive during the academic year 2001-02 and liased with the Adi dravida and Tribal welfare department in getting the tribal children registered in the nearby schools and accommodation in the boarding hostels run for the tribal. With the initiative by the Department, about 794 children are attending to schools from all these settlements. The enrolment drive launched by the Department has led to 35 percent increase from 179 children to 237 joining schools during 2001-02 compared to previous years in Pollachi, Manambolly and Ulandy Ranges alone.

A similar rate of increase has been reported from other ranges also. In the primary school run by the Forest Department at Top slip, present student strength is 72 against 15 during 1959 when the school was started. Several facilities have been provided to the school students through various agencies under Sarvasiksha Abiyan Scheme (SSA) Schools have been opened at Sarkarpathi and Udumalpet areas. Proposals have been sent to District Collector, Coimbatore for opening of five new tribal schools near the settlements where there are dropouts under the age group of 6 to 14 years. Proposals are also under consideration for appointment of educated tribal girls as teachers in co-ordination with the district administration.

HEALTH STATUS

Due to the remoteness of the area, the tribal do not have basic medical facility in their area. Much attention is being paid for the health care of tribal in the sanctuary. A dispensary is being run by the Forest Department at Top Slip for the benefit of tribal from the settlements around. Medical camps are conducted frequently in different locations for the benefit of tribal. During the year 2001- 2002 multi speciality and general mega medical camps were conducted at Topslip, Kulipatty, Sarkarpathy areas in coordination with the district administration, district health authorities and corporate health houses. Tribal, numbering about 1500 were given free medical check up and medicines distributed free of cost. Some of the tribal who were screened for eye problem and TB were taken for further treatment.

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

From the status of nomadic hunter - gatherer, the ethnic communities in Anamalais have moved further to a settled way of life due to allotment of certain forest areas for cultivation. Though the hill people of Anamalais have almost settled down to agriculture and animal husbandry, dependence on rains

10 and the threat to crops and livestock trorn wildlife don't allow a wholesome livelihood security for them. Prior to the declaration of the sanctuary, tribal were employed in various forestry operations like timber harvesting, bamboo harvesting, minor forest produce collection and grazing the. Cattle of plains, forest regeneration activities which provided them gainful employment throughout. The year. In recent times, they are experiencing hardships due to stoppage of timber; minor forest produces collection and regeneration activities. MFP collection which was hitherto permitted in the Pollachi peripheral area to Sarkarpathy tribal society was stopped in 2000.

CHAPTER – III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY CHAPTER -III

RESEARCH METHODLOGY

AIM

The Aim of the study is “To identify the Kaadar families in Vaalparai region and assess their vulnerability for their present position as well as their potential for future growth”.

OBJECTIVES

This project envisages making a holistic study of the life-style of one of the 13 Tamil Nadu Tribes with less than 700 populations each. Kaadars (Population 469/ 168 families – as mentioned in the table II on “Kaadar Population in Vaalpaarai” ) live in the deep forests of Vaalpaarai revenue division.

The Derivatives of the study will be:

a) To prepare a family card for every one of the families of the tribe indicating the educational standards and income. b) To make recommendations for processing respective age group population with compatible schooling and higher education. 1. 100% schooling up to 12th standard 2. 100% mobility of 12th standard students to colleges will be the set goals. c) To make appropriate recommendations for providing one entrepreneurship activity for each of these families.

Since, Kaadar demography is very limited, the possibility of preparing a family card, detailing members of the family and their educational and economic status was within the means of this small project. The project

12 coordinators firmly believed in the capability of engaging Kaadar youth themselves in the study, also in the hope of introducing them in a small way to democratic functioning of self-assessment and self-determination. The objective is firmly rooted in the belief that higher education and material advancement are the key stepping- stones for Tribes entry into Modern growth. The objectives also are reflective of the faith imposed on the Tribes innate potentials to adapt and grow. The report also aims at narrowing down to select vulnerabilities which are external impositions constricting the scope of Tribes participation is word by pursuits.

METHODOLOGY OF STUDY A mixed method, involving rapid ethnographic, quantitative and second data review, was utilized. The team visited the hamlets inhabited by Kaadar, both for ethnographic data collection and household interviews. Audio recording of few discussions and photographs were used to record field information. A structured interview schedule was used to collect information from the households.

The team gained understanding during the visits and iterated research questions to obtain clarity. The ethnographic information was useful in understanding the context and explaining the quantitative data collected. Dr. R.Christodas Gandhi I.A.S (Retd. Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner, Goverbnent of Tamil Nadu) and Fr. K.John Kumar S.J, Director, Social Watch – Tamil Nadu, assisted by Ms. Pavithra, Research Scholar in International Institute of Tamil Studies (a native of Vaalpaarai) and ten youth from the (pathis–‘gjpfs;’) Kadar settlements – as a team visited and surveyed these habitations. Name of the habitations visited/surveyed are as follows: 1. Nedunkundram,

2. Udumanpaarai, 3. Eethakuzhy, 4. Erumaipaarai, 5.Kallaar, 6. Kavarkal The field study team, identified as interviewers and engaged during the survey, i.e., nine Kaadar youth and one Malasar youth. All the interviewers were given training on how to conduct interview using printed interview schedules. The trained team completed surveying all the households of all Kaadar settlements. The completed forms were collected and sent to Chennai. Interns from Department of Statistics, Loyola College, created the data base, entered the data from filled in forms, carried out data cleaning, generated tables and prepared the charts. In addition, discussions with Collector, Sub Collector, Tea Board Executives, Director of Tea Estate Association, local NGOs and Assistant Professors of the local Arts and Science college teachers (a unit college of Bharathidasan University) were held on different dates.

SAMPLING  Since all the Kaadar tribe individuals and families from all the Kaadar settlements (pathis –‘gjpfs;’), have been covered, sampling method was not necessary; the total universe of Kaadar population (living in Vaalpaarai territory) have been covered in the study.

DATA COLLECTION PERIOD

 The Researcher collected the data from 180 families in Nedunkundram, Udumanpaarai, Eethakuzhy, Erumaipaarai, Kallaar, Kavarkal Habitations, Valparai Taluk, Coimbatore District. The data has been collected from during 2016.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

 This research is limited to families of Kaadar Tribes in Nedunkundram, Udumanpaarai, Eethakuzhy, Erumaipaarai, Kallaar, Kavarkal habitations, Valparai Taluk, Coimbatore District only, not applicable to any other Block or District.  This research is only focused on Kaadar Tribes, not any other Tribes.

CHAPTERIZATION

Chapter -I Introduction Chapter –II Review of Literature Chapter- III Research Methodology Chapter –IV Analysis and Interpretation Chapter- V Conclusion and Suggestion

CHAPTER – IV

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION CHAPTER – IV

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION INTRODUCTION:

The data collected by researcher are analyzed and interpreted by various graphs and pie-charts. This chapter gives the analysis and interpretation of a study of Kaadar Tribe in Vaalpaarai Taluk, Coimbatore District. And this chapter also describes the major objectives of this research study, that is Pathies on the Sample data, Death proportion at Pathies, Proportion of Children in the Families, Education of Male and Female, and Monthly wages of Family. Figure No. 01

INTERPRETATION

The data collected are from 6 different Pathies (Settlements). The maximum no. of respondents (70) is from Nedungkundram pathy. The least no. of respondents (8) is from Ethakkuli.

Figure No. 02

INTERPRETATION

70% of the Kaadar families have both Husbands and Wives alive. 26% of Kaadar families suffer the loss of husbands which is 1/4th of the collected sample data. It may indicate an alarming sign which needs further investigation.. 3.5% of Kaadar families suffer the loss of wives of the collected samples. Further, the difference of loss of husbands over wives is 23% which is 6.6 times more than the loss of wives from the family.

Figure No. 03

INTERPRETATION

25% of Kaadar tribal-households who were respondents are childless. In other words, 1/4th of the sample population (respondent families) may be extinct in next few generations which calls for an immediate action. Moreover, there can be further scope of research on the above issues. 25%, 32% and 16% of families are having one child, 2 children and 3 children respectively. 3% of families have 4 children in their families

Figure No. 04

INTERPRETATION

37-46 % (Male-Female %) of male and female are non-literates. In other words, almost half of the population is non-literate. There is 9% difference of non-literacy between male and female. In other words, a female has 9% more chance of being a non-literate than a male. 19-27% of male and female could afford to get education till 5th standard. There may be some reasons that after 5th the no. of drop out increases which can be further analyzed. 7-9% of 10th std and 2-5% of 12th std become dropouts respectively.

Figure No. 05

INTERPRETATION

37% of males are non-literate. 27% and 9% of males could manage to study till 5th and 10th standards.

Figure No. 06

INTERPRETATION

46% of females are non-literate. 19% have studied till 5th standard. 7% and 5% have passed 10th and 12th standards. A very few of them have completed BA and B.Sc.

Figure No. 07

INTERPRETATION

48% of the Kaadar families earn between Rs.2000-5000/-per month. 31% of the Kaadar families earn between Rs.1000-2000/-per month. 79% of families earn between Rs.1000-5000/-per month. Further, the data indicates that 90% of Kaadar families earn below Rs.5000/-per month. 10% of families earn more than Rs.5000/-per month. 11% of families still earn less than Rs.1000/-per month. The data shows extreme poverty in Kaadar families.

Figure No. 08

INTERPRETATION

82% are Non-farm labourers. 18% are farm labourers.

CHAPTER – V

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS CHAPTER – V

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS

FINDINGS

POTENTIALS

1. In spite of an over a half a century relegation the Kaadars have shown extraordinary grit and determination to survive

2. In the last decade or so Kaadars have displayed a lot of application of mind and willingness to partake in the development measures that have come around them. They have readily sent their kids for elementary education in tribal residential school located far away in Vaalpaarai. Similarly they are now accessing college education not only in the Barathiyar college in Vaalpaarai but also in far away colleges like Bishop Heber and Baradhidasan University in Trichy.

3. Kaadar students sent to polytechnic in Bodi in Theni district have shown excellent sports skills by leading the polytechnic foot ball team.

4. Young ladies are coming forward to do community work. These ladies are robust enough to climb on trees to pluck peppers from creepers, a strenuous task indeed in deep woods.

VULNERABILITIES

1. The artificially imposed seclusion for over six/seven decades has made these Kaadars alienated from contemporary growth.

2. Decades of denial of basic as well as higher education has deprived Kaadars from acquiring necessary academic qualification.

3. The negation of regular jobs by the estates who form the geographical barrier between Kaadar habitation and the open world, has made almost all Kaadar families impoverished

4. The control still being exercised by the Forest Department over the minor forest produce, which is a sovereign right of the tribes, have made these tribes wary of government authorities. This imperilment and existed control over by the tribal population has made them more and more impoverished.

5. Denial of education and livelihood opportunities added to the control exercised on their free movement has taken a toll on their spirit of enterprise in pursuit of employment.

The report strives to establish that there is nothing innately lacking in the intellectual acumen of tribes as well as their societal perspectives to enter modernity which however have not been given the scope for development by external agencies. The report strikes at the path of identifying vulnerabilities not as qualities inherent in the Tribes but as external circumstances that pose them barriers or instruments that aim not at development but only palliatives.

RECOMMENDATIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS For a change we are presenting the project report with our recommendation in the beginning itself. Before we come to specifics of Vaalpaarai we would like to share a few general observations on Tribal Interventions and Administration based on our experience in Vaalpaarai.

1. Tribal interventions cannot be made purposeful on a common logic or on a uniform format.

2. Fruitful interventions will be possible only if made micro specific. Different modules in different measures depending on local conditions will be ideal. 3. Government machinery meant for tribals should be located in tribal areas only. Habitation or block level officials will deliver better. Appointment of functionaries as introduced in Kerala Attapadi from amongst the local tribal communities should be emulated. At least one functionary for every 300 population should be appointed.

4. The so called mainstream concepts and programs should not be automatically extended to the tribes. Many a times they will be misfits. Local specific independent solutions should be evolved. There is a huge disconnect between tribes and the officialdom. The official interface should do much better by way of encouraging the entrepreneurial skills of and efflorescence of their mental capabilities.

5. Government should hold a quarterly training program for all the members of the divisional and district forest rights committee. In order to implement in letter and spirit the provision of the 2006 tribal forest rights act. 6. Only a few development programs have reached the tribes. Schooling, drinking water, sanitation and roads still remain a far cry.

SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VAALPARAI KAADAR 1. Though Kaadars are a small pocketful of population (179 families) it will require a very dedicated machinery to introduce development perspectives and schemes since all six Kaadar habitations of (Nedungkundram, Udumanpaarai, Erumaipaarai, Kavarkal, Kallar, Ethakkuli) are deeply entrenched in RF(Reserved forests) limits with no normal access roads or transports. They are also located far and few.

2. Therefore it is recommended that as it’s made in Attappaadi, Kerala at least three community organizers (one for two habitations) should be appointed from amongst the Kaadar graduates.

3. Though there are sufficient primary to higher secondary schools at Vaalpaarai, there is compelling need to arrange for preschool and primary school systems at each one of these habitations. This will require very original thinking to formulate a schooling pattern that can integrate both the preschool and primary school children as well as their parents and elders

4. We recommend a conception of such a centre which will cater to as little as 7 children to a maximum of 30 children

5. The centre should be designed sufficiently in keeping with the green environment around. The centre should be used for community gathering too. Feeding of children, play school amenities for children from 0 to 10 age group, pregnancy mother care, sanitation, adult education in addition to one to five standard schooling should be built into this composite complex. A building in the scale of indoor stadium should be ideal.

6. Beyond the 5th standard, the residential schools in Vaalpaarai (Both Private and Public sector) can cater to the needs of school education up to 12th standard.

OTHER FEASIBILITY FOR JOBS FOR KAADAR AND OTHER TRIBES Invariably the tribal settlements lie abutting the estates. The estates have mandates on them to take care of these native tribes whose lands have been transferred to them by the policies of the government. Human- right claims on these estates can be very well be made for the reparation of livelihood losses caused by decades of disabilities to free movements as well as deprivation of forest wealth to the native tribes

At present only two Kaadar ladies manage to go to college. There is a perfect possibility of every one of the Kaadars students completing +2 to graduate into degrees – thanks to the Post Metric Scholarship scheme which extends full support to higher studies in self financing colleges too. Yet another task of the community organizer should be to compile a data bank of all Kaadar students of +2 so that they can mentor everyone of them to higher education. The Barathiyar College in Vaalpaarai is a blessing to all Vaalpaarai tribes. The first of the Kaadar graduate women namely Murugaeswari of Nedunkundaram can be absorbed as the community organizer for a period of five years on a nominal honorarium of about Rs.15000 per month.

ONE JOB FOR EACH KAADAR FAMILY

The 179 Kaadar families could be grouped into three categories viz

i. First Category: Families consisting of a sole single aged-individual or only an aged couple. Age limit can be fixed at 50 and above ii. Second Category: Families consisting of youth above 20 years of age (of both genders) who have not crossed +2 standard iii. Third Category: Families where the parents are not educated and where the children are of school going age.

FIRST CATEGORY

First category of people may or may not be physically fit to manual jobs. While old age pensions and rations should sustain them, possibilities of profitably engaging them in processing minor forest produces that the other tribal members gather should be explored. It is significant in this context to point out the vital rights conferred in the 2006 Tribes Forest Rights Act on the tribes to own, process, use and commercialize minor forest produces.

SECOND CATEGORY

For those families where youngsters above 20 years are not educationally qualified for jobs self-employment is the best option. Adequate skill training for profitably engaging themselves in self employment should be imparted systematically to be supplemented with credit assistance with 50 percent subsidy for start-up micro ventures. Illustratively there are about 30 Kaadar youth both men and women who are educated above 10th standard, who can be given driving training (both light and heavy) and then each one provided with a commercial vehicle. These vehicles can be hired on long lease by the 50 odd estates in Vaalpaarai itself.

Yet another illustration will be to provide one or two mini buses to a set of five driver trained Kaadars which can play from Vaalpaarai to Pollachi or beyond.

THIRD CATEGORY

There are already a few graduates among the Kaadars. In the next forthcoming years more graduates and diploma holders will be emerging from the Kaadar communities. Such of these persons should be absorbed on a priority basis in the permanent job offers in the private sector, the local bodies and the government sectors within Vaalpaarai taluk. Startup loans and DIC loans should

29 also be offered to every one of the Kaadars who become a diploma holder or graduate.

The third set of families where we can find educationally qualified youngsters (degree, diploma etc) could be directly appointed in compatible government jobs without routing them through the regular recruitment processes. However after joining the said post they can be expected to clear regular departmental examinations. A special legislation can be enacted to exempt such of these tribes in Tamil Nadu whose total population is below 2000 from regular recruitment processes. There are huge numbers of backlog vacancies in Tamil Nadu government service which can be distributed to these tribes

The Vaalpaarai municipality is leasing out over hundred petty shops in Vaalpaarai town itself. These tribes living within the municipal area (as a matter of fact the whole of Vaalpaari hills in which the tribes live falls within one municipal limits and one village limits).

Strangely rural development funds may not be extendable to these tribes at-all. Only the municipal funds or tribal funds could be utilized. The municipality can do well by setting apart at least two such petti shops for each of the four tribes without insisting on advance payment as such. Tender processes can also be waived or limited to respective tribal bidders.

SUGGESTIONS

SUGGESTIONS FOR DESIGNING TRIBAL SENSITIVE SCHEMES PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY CARE

A monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 should be provided to tribal pregnant mothers from the date of conception for twelve months. This should be provided for two normal deliveries. While the pregnant mother should take care of her nourishment at home for six months, she should be shifted to ‘Thaayagam’, a residential care-home in the proximity of an upgraded primary health center equipped with a modern labour ward for a term lasting till delivery. These Thaayagams should be large enough to accommodate 5-10 pregnant mothers plus an attender each. These should be run as an NGO by a Tribal Association. Accommodation, food, medical care, lessons for pregnant mothers and their husbands should be the responsibilities of the Thaayagam. Moving the pregnant mothers in time for delivery to the PHC should be an upper most responsibility of ‘Thaayagam’. Generous funding at the following scales should be provided by the government. 1. Rent = Rs.30,000 per month(p/m) 2. Water & power charges = Rs. 5,000p/m 3. Food for pregnant mothers = Rs.5,000p/m (individual) 4.Food for attendant = Rs.3,000p/m (per individual) 5.Honorarium for the NGO = Rs.20,000p/m Food can be outsourced from a nearby mess. Medicines will be provided by the PHC. An amount of Rs.8 Lakhs p/a, per ‘Thaayagam’(jhafk;) can be established. Initially 5 such centers can be established.

1) One in Pollachi catering to Vaalparai tribes.

2) One in Sathyamangalam (Erode) catering to tribes in Sathyamangalam ranges.

3) One in Thuraiyur catering to Pachachamalai tribes.

4) One in Gudalur catering to the most vulnerable tribes in Ooty.

5) One in Coonoor again for the most vulnerable tribes (Thodas, Koththas, Kurumbar, Irular, Paniyar, Kaatunaiyakkar).

0-5 YEARS CHILD CARE CENTERS

All the existing benefits can be converged in one centre in each separate habitations irrespective of the numbers. One sophisticated care center consisting of cradles, play materials, indoor playing area, kitchen, bath and toilets in each tribal habitation should be set up. The best of nutrition shall be provided in the center for the child and the mother. Each center should have the freedom of designing their menu. This should be a place for community activity in rearing the child. Elders will learn lullabies, singing, dancing and attending to the needs of babies viz feeding, playing with them, cleaning them, dressing them up, patting to sleep, narrating stories as well as taking care of breast feeding mothers.

Besides two care-takers, mothers converging in the center will also actively take part in looking after their babies for the duration of stay in the centre. They in- turn will assist in cooking, cleaning of the premises and washing of utensils. The two care-takers will be from the same habitation and living there. They will be women- preference given to any degree-holders. Their remuneration should be fixed as Rs.20,000/- p/m. besides the food they can take along with the children. A building worth not less than a crore of rupees should be built keeping in tune with the local ecosystem. No uniform design should be imposed. The local forest rights committee under the 2006 (Forest Rights) Act should be left to manage this centre. Rs.200 crore can be set apart for a period of ten years, so that 200 such centers come up during the period all over Tamil Nadu.

ANNEXURES ANNEXURE I (QUESTIONNAIRE 1) STUDY OF fhlh; ST DEMOGRAPHY Instituted by TN STATE PLANNING COMMISSION Undertaken by REEDA (Rural Educational and Economical Development Association) Principal Investigator: R. Chrishtodas Gandhi IAS (Rtd) Co-ordinators: Fr.Kumar & Dr. Pavithra KAADAR DEMOGRAPHY / fhlh; Fbik

1. Name of Settlement / gjpapd; ngah;: Vaalpaarai village, Pollachi Taluk / Vaalpaarai Taluk, Vaalpaarai Municipality, Pollachi Division, Coimbatore District. 2. Date / Year when settlement Created / gjp cUthf;fg;gl;l Mz;L 3. Total House Holds / nkhj;j FLk;gq;fs; (fztd; kidtpahf cs;sth; xU FLk;gkhff; fzf;nfLf;fg;gLk;. fztd; my;yJ kidtp ,we;J gps;isfSld; ,Ug;Nghh; xU FLk;gkhff; fzf;nfLf;fg;gLk;. gps;isfSf;Fj; jpUkzkhfp ,Ug;gpd; jha; je;ij jdpf; FLk;gkhff; fzf;nfLf;fg;gLk;. jpUkzkhd gpd;dh; fztid ,oe;j jha; kidtpia ,oe;j je;ij jdpf; FLk;gkhf fzf;nfLf;fg;gLk;). 4. TotalMale (Age wise) nkhj;j Mz;fs; (taJ thhpahf)- vj;jidNgh; vd;W Fwpg;gpLf. 60f;F Nky; 40-60 30-40 18-30 10-18 5-10 0-5

5. Total Female (Age wise) nkhj;j ngz;fs; (taJ thhpahf)- vj;jidNgh; vd;W Fwpg;gpLf. 60f;F Nky; 40-60 30-40 18-30 10-18 5-10 0-5

6. Literate in Male (Age wise) Mz;fspy; gbj;jth; (taJ thhpahf)-vj;jidNgh; vd;W Fwpg;gpLf. BE / 5Mk; 5-10Mk; 11-12 MBBS / taJ gbg;gpy;iy ,sq;fiy KJfiy tFg;Gtiu tFg;Gtiu tFg;Gtiu LAW Degree 40f;F

Nky; 25-40 16-25 10-16 5-10

7. Literate in Female (Age wise) ngz;fspy; gbj;jth; (taJ thhpahf)-vj;jidNgh; vd;W Fwpg;gpLf. BE / 5Mk; 5-10Mk; 11-12 MBBS / taJ gbg;gpy;iy ,sq;fiy KJfiy tFg;Gtiu tFg;Gtiu tFg;Gtiu LAW Degree 40f;F

Nky; 25-40 16-25 10-16 5-10

ANNEXURE I (QUESTIONNAIRE 1) 8. Work Profile of Men (Age wise) Mz;fspd; Ntiytiffs; (taJ thhpahf)-vj;jidNgh; vd;W Fwpg;gpLf. tdj;Jiwg; B Njhl;lg; gzp/ jdpahhplk; taJ Ntiyapy;iy muRg;gzp Ra njhopy; gzp v];Nll; gzp 60f;F Nky; 40-60 30-40 18-30 16-18 16f;F fPo;

9. Work Profile of Women (Age wise) ngz;fspd; Ntiytiffs; (taJ thhpahf)-vj;jidNgh; vd;W Fwpg;gpLf tdj;Jiwg; B Njhl;lg; gzp/ jdpahhplk; taJ Ntiyapy;iy muRg;gzp Ra njhopy; gzp v];Nll; gzp 60f;F Nky; 40-60 30-40 18-30 16-18 16f;F fPo;

10. Nearest Schools mUfpYs;s gs;spfs;/ gjpapypUe;J vt;tsT njhiyT / fp.kP-,y; muR/jdpahh; gs;spapd; ngah; Jtf;fg;gs;sp eLepiyg;gs;sp cah;epiyg;gs;sp Nky;epiyg;gs;sp gs;sp

(vJ nghUj;jNkh mij bf; nra;f fp.kP Fwpg;gpLf).

11. Land Assigned to settlement in Hectare gjpf;F xJf;fg;gl;l epyk; (n`f;Nlhpy;)

12. Field – worker’s Name & Address fzf;nfLg;gth; ngah; kw;Wk; Kfthp.

REEDA – Rural Educational and Economic Development Association 141, Avvai Shanmugam Saalai, Gopalapuram, Chennai. Ph. 044-28111023 [email protected]

R.Christodos Gandhi, IAS (R) Qudsia Begum, IAS (R) Rtd. Adds. Chief Secretary, Rtd. Adds. Chief Secretary, President REEDA Secretary REEDA 9444045215 / [email protected] 9444077522 / [email protected] Fr.John Kumar, S.J Dr. Pavithra Director, Asst. Professor, Ulaga Tamil Aaraichi Social Watch – TamilTamil Nadu, NiruvanamNiruvanam,, Tharamani, Chennai. 9444469685 / [email protected] 9487878101 / [email protected]

ANNEXURE I (QUESTIONNAIRE 2) STUDY OF fhlh; ST DEMOGRAPHY Instituted by TN STATE PLANNING COMMISSION Undertaken by REEDA (Rural Educational and Economical Development Association) Principal Investigator: R. Chrishtodas Gandhi IAS (Rtd) Co-ordinators: Fr. Kumar& Dr. Pavithra KAADAR FAMILY / fhlh; FLk;gg; gbtk;

1. FLk;gj; jiyth; / jiytp:

jiyth; ngah;: ______taJ: ______

jiytp ngah;: ______taJ: ______

2. gps;isfs;:

t.vz; ngah; Mz; ngz; taJ 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

3. FLk;gj;jhh; gbg;G tptuk;:

t.vz; ngah; gbg;G 1. 2. 3. 4.

4. FLk;gj; jiyth; jiytp $l;L khj tUkhdk;:

&.1000f;Fk; fPo; &.1000-2000 &.2000-5000 &.5000f;F Nky;

(vJnghUj;jNkhmij bf; nra;f).

ANNEXURE I (QUESTIONNAIRE 2) 5. FLk;gj; jiyth /; jiytpf;F tPL cz;lh? Mk; ,y;iy 6. FLk;gj;jpy; md;whlk; rikf;Fk; czT tiffs; ______7. vd;d Ra njhopy; nra;a tpUg;gk; cs;sJ? ______8. FLk;gj;jhUf;F cs;s jpwikfs;> fiyawpT> gw;wpf; Fwpg;gpL. (%ypif tptuk; njhpe;jpUj;jy;> kUj;Jtk; nra;jy;> Mly;> ghly;> Ntshz;iknra;jy;> tPLfl;Ljy;> tpyq;FfSld; NgRjy; Nghd;wd.) ______9. fzf;nfLg;gth; ngah; - Kfthp:

REEDA – Rural Educational and Economic Development Association 141, AvvaiShanmugamSaalai, Gopalapuram, Chennai. Ph. 044-28111023 [email protected]

R.Christodos Gandhi, IAS (R) Qudsia Begum, IAS (R) Rtd. Adds. Chief Secretary, Rtd. Adds. Chief Secretary, President REEDA Secretary REEDA 9444045215 / [email protected] 9444077522 / [email protected] Fr.John Kumar, S.J Dr. Pavithra Director, Asst. Professor, Ulaga Tamil Aaraichi Social Watch – Tamil Nadu, Niruvanam, Tharamani, Chennai. 9444469685 / [email protected] 9487878101 / [email protected]

ANNEXURE - II SUB-GROUP wise SCHEDULED TRIBE Population in each District as per Census 2011 S.No Community Ariyalur Chennai Coimbatore Cuddalore Dharampuri Dindigul Erode Kancheepuram Kanniyakumari Karur 1 Adiyan 9 86 35 537 16 162 112 6 3 2 Aranadan 25 19 1 1 14 4 3 Eravallan 37 2395 5 1 4 Irular 9747 794 14508 9176 8156 5 306 27785 11 24 5 Kadar 27 521 5 3 3 4 12 2 6 Kammara 126 44 11 4 19 4 97 7 Kanikaran 3409 8 Kaniyan, Kanyan 117 7 36 11 5 23 102 691 8 9 Kattunayakan 31 593 1259 2583 97 2100 86 1736 858 294 10 Kochu velan 11 Konda Kapus 223 1 1 5 6 2 23 12 Kondarredis 266 188 39 59 4 1855 125 7 13 Koroga 9 9 1 5 20 14 Kota 21 22 24 16 5 15 Kudiya, Melakudi 1 9 5 16 Kurichan 17 14 11 2593 1 5 17 Kurumbas 109 18 Kurumanas 1569 36 12658 85 67 912 7 7 19 Maha Malasar 76 1 20 Malai Arayan 14 27 8 4 15 8 4 4 21 Malai Pandaram 30 116 172 3 21 31 75 77 7 22 Malai Vedan 25 73 3 934 12 148 128 11 23 Malakkuravan 23 1198 79 1491 64 48 219 2751 62 2 24 Malasar 15 5793 211 8 21 3 25 Malayali 17 294 37948 99 26 Malayakandi 2 58 12 1 27 Mannan 0 13 1 6 2 14 22 28 Mudugar, Muduvan 25 740 31 27 7 9 29 Muthuvan 12 52 1 6 30 Pallayan 28 1 104 1 31 Palliyan 97 2 2 15 1056 1 24 23 32 Palliyar 18 108 2 3208 39 17 12 35 33 Paniyan 4 57 17 5 40 1 20 2 1 34 Sholaga 30 6 4 5286 51 5 35 Toda 60 60 12 3 16 81 2 36 Urali 16 7 10 3 7 12542 23 61 7 37 Genetic Tribes etc., 865 4522 2109 1249 1127 317 1126 7006 1929 36 Total 10722 10061 28342 15702 63044 8064 21880 41210 7282 575 SOURCE: DEPT. OF TRIBAL WELFARE, GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU, JULY, 2014 37 ANNEXURE - II SUB-GROUP wise SCHEDULED TRIBE Population in each District as per Census 2011 Krishnagiri Madurai Nagapattinam Namakkal Permabalur Pudukottai Ramanathapuram Salem Sivagangai Thanjavur The Nilgiris Theni 174 906 30 279 2 1 274 85 4 40 3 1 1 1 15437 19 431 689 566 6 817 17 740 9480 4 1 10 2 12 18 4 158 4 13 2 6 3 6

3 17 8 8 9 5 37 4804 1363 39 1 567 784 44 359 1573 1989 320

25 7 2 10 50 9 44 69 4 1 3554 47 20 3 19 2 20 5 2 2 1 59 5 13 3341 34 6 22 1 2 7 6823 1517 19 9 35 4 1 2074 2 166 520 73

2 25 6 3 16 48 22 22 11 6 47 24 38 51 25 26 192 4507 4 6 4 4 44 2 747 29 35 316 569 220 160 122 1307 89 381 10 36 25 2 1 0 32 10 56 324 53926 1631 63 109083 2 14 1 1 54 1 3 2 111 4 1 4 1 7 3 3 1 4 87 1 2 3 16 60 19 13 5 155 11 37 4 7 1 406 12 316 4 7 134 11 1 1 16 690 6 31 2 5 1 3 2 14 9824 27 32 19 4 1 111 3 132 29 6 5 2 95 6 1509 1 6 1 5 3 1 229 1116 749 389 1989 58 58 73 1981 220 251 1230 65 22388 11096 3756 57059 2584 1283 1105 119369 790 3561 32813 1835 SOURCE: DEPT. OF TRIBAL WELFARE, GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU, JULY, 2014 38 ANNEXURE - II SUB-GROUP wise SCHEDULED TRIBE Population in each District as per Census 2011 Tiruvallur Tiruvarur Thoothukkudi Thirichirappalli Tirunelveli Tirupur Tiruvannamali Vellore Vilupuram Viruthunagar Grand Total 92 625 443 1 74 64 85 322 3 4426 22 1 3 138 32 7 368 24 2871 30218 146 20 760 7 181 24157 17738 17705 11 189661 9 1 8 2 7 3 650 376 1 12 36 3 12 100 8 1049 428 3837 28 258 13 787 6 2137 2360 1797 4124 793 6052 2603 1473 1979 2590 1384 46672 1 r 6 7 214 1 11 521 2421 9 25 138 647 98 21 102 22 10 9847 12 8 1 106 4 1 119 1 6 13 2 303 9 18 6 66 2 6 9 17 2 8 2 6100 6932 901 5 21 207 96 4383 5477 4 4 30859 77 15 15 1 16 1 1 3 172 72 65 7 70 15 87 19 45 168 23 1439 32 67 7 32 178 18 1 3 4 7215 1484 65 218 299 996 119 3575 1773 1804 98 19613 3 4 24 231 7 14 3 6463 14303 53671 40976 45645 357980 6 12 1 1 23 22 210 12 10 1 4 5 211 20 3 372 7 1257 5 2 209 3 385 1 1 7 1 28 2 256 293 8 2 14 7 5 6 17 9 2239 8 3 8 93 134 2 1 1 391 5272 9 9 7 23 6 12 4 7 10139 22 2 13 12 216 12 27 5988 32 10 1 17 4 25 1975 5 37 22 12986 8524 282 131 816 973 553 3526 4506 6533 329 54638 47243 3034 4911 18198 10270 5458 90954 72955 74859 2294 794697 SOURCE: DEPT. OF TRIBAL WELFARE, GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU, JULY, 2014 39

APPENDIX APPENDIX

PHOTOS TAKEN DURING VAALPARAI VISIT

REFERENCES

 FOREST RIGHTS ACT, 2006 Published in 2014, By Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India and United Nations Development Programme, India

 FOREST HISTORY OF ANAMALAIS, Tamil Nadu March – 2003 Traced by: Dr. T. Sekar, Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle, Coimbatore with Inputs from: V. Ganesan, Wildlife Warden, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Pollachi.