A Qualitative Study on the Health and Education of Primitive Tribal Groups (Ptgs) of Gudalur, Tamil Nadu
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International Journal of Information Research and Review, April, 2016 International Journal of Information Research and Review Vol. 03, Issue, 04, pp. 2161-2168, April, 2016 Review Article A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON THE HEALTH AND EDUCATION OF PRIMITIVE TRIBAL GROUPS (PTGS) OF GUDALUR, TAMIL NADU 1,*Ms. Saraswathi Nandhini, R. and 2Dr. Sathyamurthi, K. 1Ph D (Full Time) UGC-JRF Research Scholar, Dept. of Social Work (Aided), Madras School of Social Work,Chennai-8 2Research Supervisor and HOD, Ph. D in Social Work, Dept. of Social Work (Aided), Madras School of Social Work, Chennai-8 ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article History: In India, Tribal constitute 8.61% of the total population numbering 104.28 million (2011 Census) and Received 16th, January 2016 cover about 15% of the country’s area. Nilgiri district had the highest percentage of (3.16%) Received in revised form scheduled tribe population in Tamil Nadu. About 50% of the tribal population is concentrated in 14th, February 2016 Gudalur taluk, the remaining 50% of the tribal population is distributed in the other three taluks. Toda, Accepted 29th, March 2016 Kota, Irula Kurumba, Kattunayakan and Paniya were the six primitive tribal groups found in Nilgiri. Published online 27, April 2016 The study facilitates to understand the health and educational status of the tribes in 3 villages Kadalakolly, Muttimoola and Thangamalai at Gudalur taluk using qualitative method. The finding shows that there exist less importance to health and education and lack of motivation in progress of Keywords: education and health which leads to the poor health and lack of knowledge and awareness. The study Health, suggests the implementation of the community organization as a social work method to stimulate a Education, professional approach to develop them. Tribes, Social work, Community Organization. Copyright © 2016, Ms. Saraswathi Nandhini, R. and Dr. Sathyamurthi. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. INTRODUCTION Provisions of special protective measures for the development th India (N.K. Behura, 2006) is one of the nation-states of the of tribal communities was felt necessary since late 19 century world to have elaborate preferential arrangements for the and were reflected at different points of time in the form of hundreds of ethnic minorities in general and tribal communities Scheduled District Acts of 1874, the Indian education in particular. The Constitution of India does not contain the Commission of 1882, Government of India Act of 1919 and criterion for the specification of any community as scheduled 1935 who paid some attention for special treatment of the tribe. An often used criterion is based on attributes such as: communities. Provisions of special protective measures for the development of tribal communities was felt necessary since late Geographical isolation – they live in cloistered, exclusive, 19th century and were reflected at different points of time in the remote and inhospitable areas such as hills and forests. form of Scheduled District Acts of 1874, the Indian education Backwardness – their livelihood is based on primitive Commission of 1882, Government of India Act of 1919 and agriculture, a low-value closed economy with a low level of 1935 who paid some attention for special treatment of the technology that leads to their poverty. They have low levels communities. In India, Tribal constitute 8.61% of the total of literacy and health. population numbering 104.28 million (2011 Census) and cover Distinctive culture, language and religion – communities about 15% of the country’s area. Nilgiri district had the highest have developed their own distinctive culture, language and percentage of (3.16%) scheduled tribe population in Tamil religion. Nadu. About 50% of the tribal population is concentrated in Shyness of contact – they have a marginal degree of contact Gudalur taluk, the remaining 50% of the tribal population is with other cultures and people. distributed in the other three taluks. Toda, Kota, Irula Kurumba, Kattunayakan and Paniya were the six primitive tribal groups found in Nilgiri. The Nilgiri Hills (P.K. Misra, 1988) are *Corresponding author: Ms. Saraswathi Nandhini, R., massive, rising almost to the height of 8000 feet above the sea Ph D (full time) UGC-JRF Research Scholar, Dept. of Social Work level. (Aided), Madras School of Social Work, Chennai. Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2804374 2162 Ms. Saraswathi Nandhini, R. and Dr. Sathyamurthi. a qualitative study on the health and education of primitive tribal groups (ptgs) of Gudalur, Tamil Nadu There must have been regular contacts between the hill Knowledge gives inner strength which is very essential for the dwellers and the people of Coimbatore plains on the east, tribes for attaining freedom from exploitation and poverty. people of Wanad on the west, and people of Mysore plains on The tribal areas are rich in natural resources. A number of the north. However, the popular story is that around 1822 the projects, both major and medium viz, irrigation, energy then Collector of Coimbatore, John Sullivan, an English man, generation and industrial, have been set up in the tribal areas. climbed up to Kotagiri through the bridle path and later was The tribes, due to lack of education and requisite skill are not responsible in founding the town of Ooty. Undoubtedly Ooty able to take advantage of the new economic opportunities attracted the Englishmen for its climate and the home-like which have been grabbed by the outsiders migrated to the tribal atmosphere. It developed rapidly because it favoured the cool areas. It not only deprives them of the opportunity in the new weather crops and trees. European fruits and vegetables were ventures but also alienates them from their resources bases, i.e, introduced in small scale, while tea and coffee were planted in the land and subjects them to exploitation by the middlemen large scale. Later cinchona, acacia and eucalyptus found their and contractors in forestry operations and also by the way. Along with these lines the three towns that flourished as middlemen and contractors in forestry operations and also by hill station were Ooty, Kotagiri and Coonoor. The western the moneylenders. slopes in Wynad region were inhabited by the tribal population like the Mullukurumba, the Kattunaicken, the Urali Kurumba, The main causes of slow progress in Literacy are and the Paniya. Of these the Paniya were the most exploited. Provisions of special protective measures for the development Poverty of the parents th of tribal communities was felt necessary since late 19 century Contents of educations and were reflected at different points of time in the form of Inadequate educational institutions and supporting services Scheduled District Acts of 1874, the Indian education Absenteeism Commission of 1882, Government of India Act of 1919 and Medium of instructions 1935 who paid some attention for special treatment of the Education policy. communities. In India, Tribal constitute 8.61% of the total population Planning for the Tribals numbering 104.28 million (2011 Census) and cover about 15% of the country’s area. Nilgiri district had the highest percentage Constitutional safeguard by itself cannot bring development for of (3.16%) scheduled tribe population in Tamil Nadu. About the tribal people who unlike the rural population may not 50% of the tribal population is concentrated in Gudalur taluk, always be poor but suffer exploitation at the hands of the more the remaining 50% of the tribal population is distributed in the powerful, land hungry and avaricious people. other three taluks. Toda, Kota, Irula Kurumba, Kattunayakan Early in the medical career of Dr. Narashimha, he used to walk and Paniya were the six primitive tribal groups found in Nilgiri. through the tea estates, down the railtrack, in search of herbs. The Nilgiri Hills (P.K. Misra, 1988) are massive, rising almost One morning he heard some men moaning. He went towards to the height of 8000 feet above the sea level. There must have the sound and to his surprise found a number tea estate been regular contacts between the hill dwellers and the people labourers locked in a shed like cattle or sheep in a pen. He of Coimbatore plains on the east, people of Wanad on the west, talked to them and found out that the tea estate supervisors had and people of Mysore plains on the north. However, the caused inhuman injury beneath their ankles with nails. The popular story is that around 1822 the then Collector of purpose behind the cruel action was to incapacitate them from Coimbatore, John Sullivan, an English man, climbed up to running away from the estate when they saw other labourers Kotagiri through the bridle path and later was responsible in suffering or dying of malaria. With painful wounds on their founding the town of Ooty. Undoubtedly Ooty attracted the legs, these labourers were lot out in the morning to walk slowly Englishmen for its climate and the home-like atmosphere. It around the tea estate and pick the tea leaves. developed rapidly because it favoured the cool weather crops and trees. European fruits and vegetables were introduced in Health and Education small scale, while tea and coffee were planted in large scale. Later cinchona, acacia and eucalyptus found their way. Along Health with these lines the three towns that flourished as hill station were Ooty, Kotagiri and Coonoor. The western slopes in The tribals have no clear concept of Health. Their unfriendly Wynad region were inhabited by the tribal population like the habitat tends them to do hard work for getting food. So, only Mullukurumba, the Kattunaicken, the Urali Kurumba, and the when somebody is seriously ill, will he be laid down and Paniya.